A traditional Taiwanese steel enterprise has commissioned KHAA (Kuo+Huang and Associates) to revolutionize public perception of steel through an innovative architectural project that reimagines the material's possibilities. The project, titled 'AS ABOVE SO BELOW,' seeks to transform the conventional understanding of steel from something heavy and rigid into something light and flexible.
The 60-square-meter project, completed in 2025 in Xihu, Taiwan, represents a bold departure from traditional steel construction approaches. Lead architects Hsuyuan Kuo and the design team, including Effie Huang and Jing-Jia Huang, have created three small architectural compositions that challenge preconceived notions about steel as a building material.
According to the architects' project description, the steel structures have been reimagined as poetic architectural verses that sing of poetry and song. This conceptual approach transforms industrial material into something more expressive and emotionally resonant, demonstrating steel's potential for creating delicate and nuanced spatial experiences.
The project represents an interdisciplinary approach that merges architecture with artistic expression. By working closely with the steel enterprise client, KHAA has developed innovative techniques and design strategies that showcase steel's versatility beyond its traditional applications in heavy construction and industrial settings.
Engineering and consulting work for the project was handled by Envision, ensuring that the innovative design concepts could be successfully realized while maintaining structural integrity. The collaboration between the architectural team and engineering consultants was crucial in developing new approaches to steel construction that support the project's artistic vision.
Photography of the completed project was captured by OS studio, 也行影像製作公司, and Olivier Marceny, documenting how the transformed steel structures create new spatial experiences and visual narratives. The photographic documentation reveals how the architects successfully achieved their goal of making steel appear lighter and more flexible than traditional applications would suggest.
The project stands as part of KHAA's broader portfolio of cultural architecture, demonstrating the firm's commitment to pushing boundaries in material use and architectural expression. Based in Taiwan, KHAA continues to explore innovative approaches to design that challenge conventional material applications and create new possibilities for architectural experience.
