MVRDV's tainan spring is an urban lagoon set within the ruins of a shopping mall

MVRDV has completed ‘tainan spring’, a recreational lagoon and park setting within the preserved ruin of a mall in taiwan. located in central tainan, a city on the country’s southwest coast, the project involved the transformation of a former shopping mall into an urban lagoon surrounded by plants. over time it is hoped that this vegetation will develop into a lush jungle, reconnecting the city with nature and its waterfront.

all images © daria scagliola

commissioned by the urban development bureau of the tainan city government, MVRDV’s completed masterplan rejuvenates an area to the east of the city center. in addition to the new public square and pool, the plan also includes improved public pathways, a reduction in traffic, and the addition of local plants. ‘in tainan spring, people can bathe in the overgrown remains of a shopping mall,’ says winy maas, founding partner of MVRDV. ‘children will soon be swimming in the ruins of the past — how fantastic is that?’

the previously existing mall has been removed and recycled, with its underground parking level transformed into a sunken public plaza. the water in the pool rises and falls in response to the region’s rainy and dry seasons, and in hot weather mist sprayers provide welcome relief for visitors. the plaza also contains a range of gathering spaces as well as a stage for performances. meanwhile, the deconstruction of the building’s concrete frame has left a number of ‘follies’ that can be converted to shops, kiosks, and other amenities.

a key part of MVRDV’s strategy was to bring greenery into the city. ‘tainan is a very grey city,’ continues winy maas. ‘with the reintroduction of the jungle to every place that was possible, the city is reintegrating into the surrounding landscape. that the reintroduction of greenery was an important thread in our master plan can be seen in the planting areas on haian road. we mixed local plant species so that they mimic the natural landscape east of tainan. I think the city will benefit greatly from this.’

project info:

architect: MVRDV
principal in charge: winy maas
partner: wenchian shi, jeroen zuidgeest
project coordinator: hui-hsin liao
design team: hui-hsin liao, angel sanchez navarro, stephan boon, xiaoting chen, andrea anselmo, yi chien liao, zuliandi azli, olivier sobels, dong min lee, chi yi liao
visualization: antonio luca coco, costanza cuccato, davide calabro, paolo mossa idra
copyright: winy maas, jacob van rijs, nathalie de vries
photography: daria scagliola

partners:
local architects: LLJ architects
sustainability/landscape and urban designers: the urbanists collaborative
structural engineers consultant: evergreat associates, SE
transport planners: THI consultants inc
lighting designer: LHLD lighting design
MEP engineers: frontier tech institute
general contractor: yong-ji construction co. ltd.
previous coverage: november 2015