'RED elevaTor' by atelierSUPERB aims to inspire new ideas in yuanlin, taiwan

in 2019, atelier SUPERB was commissioned to design an accessible elevator for a local tax office in yuanlin city, taiwan. to them, the constant renewal of existing buildings is key to keep them growing with the community especially since buildings nowadays last much longer than the pace of a city’s development.

images courtesy of atelier SUPERB 

atelier SUPERB perceived this vertical expansion as an opportunity and an urban strategy to transcend the current image of the city of yuanlin. the existing institutional building consists of offices mainly. it was built in the 1980s and is located in a residential area. currently, the plaza in front of the building only functions as a car park.

the designers were inspired by the characteristics of a tower, which they found applicable to their vision of this new addition and that’s where the name ‘ RED elevaTor’ came from. to them, a tower stands solitarily as a monument, or as an extension of a space attached to the main building. its verticality redefines the skyline of the city and fulfills the human desire to elevate from the ground.

on an urban scale, they aimed to liberate the symmetry and authoritativeness of the original building by making the elevator a focal point close to the main entrance facing the crossroads. they wanted this vertical volume to touch the ground softly, suggesting openness at the ground level. the large upper opening not only accommodates service utilities such as ventilation, maintenance, and space for future technical expansions, its sculptural form also sets the perspective and aesthetic scale for the context.

all the openings are carefully designed to express the essence of the space: to connect between the inside and the outside, from below to the above, and to divert from the enclosed tubular shape of a lift shaft. the dark red semi-gloss finished steel panels of the lift match with the pink tiles on the building façade, yet the two materials contrast in texture and proportion. the smooth steel panels humbly reflect the surrounding colors making the elevator seem lighter.

the new elevator is connected to the original building by the shortest distance possible, placed at the end of the internal service circulation next to the existing staircase. the form and layout inherit the structural orders of the original building and openings. the color of the new hallway door frame is in sync with the existing black window frames. the arrangement of the interior lighting in the hallway is also based on the structure of the linking passageway.

in the next phase, the designers plan to install spotlights at designated openings to light up the front plaza in the evening and engage with other public buildings nearby. with its lighting, vivid color, and eccentric style, atelier SUPERB believes that this bold urban icon will revitalize the skyline of the city.

project info:

name: RED ElevaTor/ steel panels with paint coatings

designers: atelier SUPERB / eric yu, ming-ching hsu, chu-yun cheng

location: yuanlin city, taiwan