MVRDV, the renowned Dutch architectural firm, has won the commission to redesign the tourist infrastructure of Jialeshui, Taiwan, working in collaboration with HWC Architects. Their winning masterplan, titled "Nature Rocks!", aims to transform the visitor experience at one of Taiwan's most popular geological destinations while addressing longstanding infrastructure challenges that have plagued the site.
Located on a dramatic stretch of coastline in Taiwan's far south, Jialeshui forms part of Kenting National Park in Pingtung County and ranks among the country's most well-known geological parks. The site attracts thousands of visitors who come to see remarkable rock formations carved by wind and sea over millennia, including the famous Rabbit Rock, Toad Rock, and Seal Rock, where sandstone has been naturally sculpted into animal-like shapes. Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, the area has long struggled with inadequate infrastructure that fails to meet visitor needs.
The current infrastructure presents significant challenges for both visitors and the environment. A single narrow road serves as the only connection between the forested areas and the shoreline, forcing shuttle buses, cyclists, and pedestrians to compete for the same limited space. Small kiosks and pavilions throughout the site have suffered repeated damage from powerful typhoons that regularly strike Taiwan's southern coast, leaving the area both congested and environmentally fragile.
MVRDV's innovative "Nature Rocks!" design addresses these infrastructure problems by completely reimagining circulation and public spaces as a cracked stone landscape that echoes the site's natural geology. The architects propose breaking apart the existing straight road and re-stitching it into a comprehensive system of pathways that flow organically between forest and coast. This new circulation system divides space into distinct zones for walking, cycling, shuttle bus transportation, and rest areas, significantly improving traffic flow and visitor safety.
The design's most striking feature involves transforming roads, paths, and buildings into rocky fragments that appear to emerge naturally from the terrain. Some of these rock-like fragments rise into small buildings that house essential visitor facilities, including a comprehensive visitor center, exhibition spaces, restrooms, and strategically placed lookout points. The roof of the largest structure becomes a panoramic terrace specifically designed for stargazing and offering spectacular views of the sea.
At the site's entrance, three sculptural structures cluster together to form an impressive gateway that welcomes visitors and establishes the design's rock-inspired aesthetic. Along the route, new kiosks and viewpoints will replace outdated facilities at existing points of interest, including upgrades to the sea lookout, the stone deck, and areas near the waterfall. These improvements ensure that all new construction remains within the site's already developed footprint, preserving undisturbed natural areas.
The architects have incorporated sophisticated environmental management strategies into their design. MVRDV carves cracks between the rock-like elements that function as passive drainage channels, helping to manage stormwater and reduce flooding risks while simultaneously allowing native vegetation to take root and providing corridors for animals to move between forest and shore. This approach supports the site's ecological connectivity and resilience.
A comprehensive planting strategy complements the built elements, with tall native trees positioned near the forest edge and gradually transitioning to salt-tolerant species closer to the coast. Even the concrete structures are designed to weather naturally over time and eventually host mosses and plants, allowing the built environment to integrate more fully with the natural landscape as it ages.
Concrete has been selected as the primary building material due to its unique ability to withstand the site's harsh climate conditions, including strong winds, salt spray, and typhoon impacts. In an environmentally conscious move, the aggregate for the concrete will be partly recycled from buildings demolished during the redevelopment process, reducing waste and environmental impact.
By confining all interventions to previously developed areas and allowing natural systems to influence the design process, MVRDV and HWC Architects aim to strengthen Jialeshui's role as a premier geological park without compromising the natural qualities that originally made it famous. The project represents a thoughtful balance between improving visitor infrastructure and preserving the site's remarkable natural heritage for future generations.
