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Architects: Bio-architecture Formosana + NOIZ ARCHITECTS
- Area: 24721 m²
- Year: 2014
Mid-Taiwan Innovative Career Transition
Located in Nantou County’s Central Taiwan Science Park in Zhongxing New Village, Central Taiwan Innovation Campus MOEA (CTIC) is a multi-purpose Research Institute. CTIC has a total surface area of more than 42,700 m2 and is located at a 2.47-hectare site with the capacity to accommodate more than one thousand employees. With the rapid outflow of talents due to legislative administration alteration in addition to the destructions caused by 921 Earthquake, the local development of Zhongxing New Village was once severely affected. Under the premise of maintaining existing cityscape as well as the quality of lifestyle, the project aims to undergo a transition in becoming a high-end Research Park by integrating central Taiwan research resources to promote local economic development.
To resurrect the name it was once known for- Urban Garden, Zhongxing New Village is designed to be environmental friendly by creating a natural environment most suitable for the co-existence of human and nature. The building’s life cycle has been taken into account for the foundation of the operational management, which is determined based on the demand, design, and characteristics of each space since the beginning of the planning phase. The goal is to reduce 10 percent of the overall carbon offset during its construction phase. Furthermore, BIM is adopted to conduct analysis for the efficiency of the operation.
Landmark Preservation
The design of the project incorporates local visual landscape components. Through manipulating forms, increasing greeneries in the neighborhood and elevating the overall structure by 20m, the design symbolically represents the ground layer being sliced open. The main floor plan consists of laboratories, office spaces in addition to common areas that are all well-lit with natural light. A three-story tall greenhouse is located on the southern-east side of the park with ample sunlight for sub-tropical horticultural engineering research.
The greenery starts from the plaza on the ground level, continues through the employees dining area, proceeds to the rooftop and finally converges back to the nature at the back of the site. This continuation of plants drastically reduces both visual and environmental collision. Moreover, the eco-pond achieves the effect of lowering temperature, BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics) installed in the courtyard functions as shelter as well as regenerating energy, and the crater-shaped rooftop platform camouflages the electromechanically appliances. All things considered, the design approach has successfully combined technology with aestheticism.
A Façade that Echoes to the Surrounding Landscape
The building façade is composed entirely by metal-framed curtain wall and aluminum louver panels with laboratory pipelines and maintenance pathway placed in between. To effectively reduce the intensity of radiation while receiving maximum natural light source, the shell is constructed of 16mm thick low-E energy efficient glass and 8mm semi-reflective glass. Perforated louver panels which serve as shelter, creates rhythmic pattern with their curvature and density. The main feature of the building façade- 3358 pieces of architectural exterior sun shades designed by Noiz Architects (Keisuke Toyoda and Chia-Hsuan Tsai) were manually installed by the construction team.
Earthquake Resistant Structures
Located on high earthquake frequency geographic zone- Chelungpu Fault, the project incorporates anti-shock mechanisms such as Buckling Restrained Brace (BRB), Fluid Viscous Dampers (FVD) and adopts the Ductile Beam-to-Column Connection method. In addition to meeting the criteria in “Specifications and Commentary of Buildings”, I value of the usage factor has risen to 1.25. Based on the concept of “Strong Column and Weak Beam” and with the use of steel moment resisting frame, buckling restrained braces (BRB), fluid viscous damper (FVD) and other earthquake-resistant structures, the structure remains elastic after an earthquake of level 7 or above. Even if the magnitude and intensity of earthquake is far greater than that in level 7, the building is still able to deform in an advantageous way to resist the seismic activity. This allows the building to reach a high safety standard such that there will still be chances to repair the building in case of an intense earthquake; there will be no casualties in case of a medium-sized earthquake; there will be no worries in case of a mild earthquake. Thus, it can protect the users’ advanced equipment and research production.
Micro-climate Benefits Health
During the design process, CFD wind field simulation analysis was employed alongside with professional/spectacular software. An inner air passage is created introducing monsoon from the outer openings of the whole building in order to provide natural ventilation. With the aim to achieve the flexible demands from the research institute, this building has the form similar to the Chinese character 「回」, and a semi-outdoor courtyard is being shaped with 65 meters of length, 46 meters of width and 23 meters of height. Moreover, a cosy working area could be found by the coordination of the external open spaces, ecological pond and multiple layers vegetation.
Spatial Interaction between Inside and Outside
The exhibition area and the library located at the core area are connected with the laboratories and office area by the footbridges, which as a whole serve as a common space for the researchers to exchange their creative ideas. The exhibition area and the stepped conference room are situated on the 1/F of the central block. The general public can begin their visit in the complex passing through the lobby and the steps at the central atrium. Natural light and the ambience of greenness are introduced into the interior through the full-height glass panels, which also allows indoor activities to be extended to the outdoor platform. The library is located on the 2/F-4/F of the central block and connected with the office and laboratories by the intersecting bridges. This design allows the general public and the staff to utilize conveniently within the complex. The semi-outdoor platform at the rooftop is collocated with trees and plantation, as well as a canopy formed by solar panels, more spaces are hence provided for the public to stay and take a rest as they wish. The general public can therefore enjoy overlooking the spectacular view of Bagua Plateau with such a wide vision.
Intelligent Green-building Merges with Sustainability
Reducing carbon production is always the chief aim for the projects of Bio-architecture Formosana. In this project, it targets the major nine indicators among EEWH green building certification system in Taiwan which in turn puts forward the integrated and thorough strategies. This project has been awarded the “Green Building Label” a Diamond status consequently. In order to achieve providing the substantial environmental feedback, this projects makes use of actual practices such as creating habitats for local species, planting multiple layers of vegetation, using eco-materials and set up raining water recycle system, etc… Besides, the firm introduces carbon foot-print calculation, feasibility assessment and specific measurements during the design process and construction stage. Above all, the ultimate aim is to build a low-carbon architecture and low-carbon city.
The elements of maintenance management, efficient energy saving, utilizing renewable resources and wisdom control have to be considered for architecture with intelligence. For example, using 140 watt solar energy panels for internal LED lighting can reduce the consumption of ordinary electricity; the air-conditionings chiefly run with the ice storage system in which carbon dioxide monitoring system is also inserted, allowing automatic alteration of the incorporation of outer gas; two-way Lighting Control System is being employed in the entire area while timing control mode and light sensor are being applied to control the on-off of the lighting; external auto-dimming and individual illumination are being set up in some distinct regions, besides, natural light is introduced from visual penetrable spaces for instance open laboratories.
“Central Taiwan Innovation Campus MOEA” has become one of the significant project precedents of “the pathway for industrial innovation” for Bio-architecture Formosana after the cooperation with Industrial Technology Research Institute of Taiwan in “ChiaYi Industry Innovation and Research Center”. In order to show respect have been given on local environment, this project draws on the concept of ecological landscape whilst introducing nature into architecture. Moreover, the design technique on intelligent green-building coordinating with advanced research equipment has allowed the middle area of Taiwan to be developed into another stronghold of innovating industrial exploration engages technology, ecology and culture.
