128-meter-high residential tower with honeycomb façade overlooks taichung, taiwan

milan-based architectural firm ACPV ARCHITECTS antonio citterio patricia viel has completed the ‘la bella vita’ residential tower with a reflective honeycomb façade in taichung, taiwan. set within the commercial heart of the city, the 128-meter-high structure aims to integrate the character and identity of the nearby open green spaces, while also fostering a dynamic relationship with the surrounding urban context. 

all images courtesy of ACPV ARCHITECTS antonio citterio patricia viel

ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel‘s ‘la bella vita’ is located in the new prime district of taichung; an area that represents the city’s high-end housing and service sector developments from the last ten years. within its characteristic grid plan, the city combines green public spaces and public art in a unique manner. the tower is designed as a continuation of these surrounding public spaces, with its ground floor creating a continuum with the exterior public artworks and green landscapes. 

the project combines elements of an italian approach with influences from the east, generating a distinct architectural identity expressed by a composition of seemingly disjoint, yet complementary volumes. four lower volumes of stacked balconies allude to the materiality of long stretches of rock formations found on the surface of the earth. these formations, integrated with the tallest 37-story amber volume that ties all building masses together, create a sense of sophisticated playfulness.

with its core wrapped in a honeycomb-patterned window structure that breaks light and reflections, ‘la bella vita’ bears a crystalline quality that sets it apart from neighboring buildings. this tall central volume ties together the four residential volumes in a permeable structure that maps out an arrival sequence from the green landscape of the street level to the privacy of the 168 residential units. 

the towers’s design concept is mapped out by the clear separation between the shared and private areas. common rooms, vertical connections, technical and support zones are located in the middle of the rectangular space enclosed by the four residential volumes, creating a central vertical core that emerges from the ground level and stretches to the tallest point of the building.

‘la bella vita’ embeds a different approach to building design, putting the needs of the people who occupy it at the heart of the process. all elements were considered and curated with the well-being of residents in mind. in the spirit of social sustainability, shared areas are conceived as a framework for interaction among residents and visitors. the tower features a vertical sequence of biospheres that gather around large indoor trees, fostering connections among groups of residents. the clear and long sightlines within the biospheres mirror the uninterrupted views of the surroundings from the large balconies of the residences.

project info:

name: la bella vita
architecture office: ACPV ARCHITECTS antonio citterio patricia viel
location: taichung, taiwan

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edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom