OODA has received a merit award for their proposal for the 'New Taipei City Museum of Art International Competition' located in Taipei, Taiwan. By twisting a double-glazed facade over inclined steel supports, the Portuguese design firm enables the cubic building to harvest both rainwater and sunshine.
The intention of the initiative was to produce a landmark building for the people of the urban center which pioneers an innovative design concept. This form consists of two hypercubes; a 90 degree angled cube suspended within a larger contorted volumetric box. Visitors pass under the lifted and arched exterior to enter the museum through the centralized elevator core.
The museum's galleries are located along a continuous perimeter ramp which spirals upwards through the shifting interior space around the art resource center. Administrative spaces are placed at the highest level of the building while the children's museum is located below grade. Derived from intersections of the inner form, continuous steel elements are inclined running from corner to corner supporting the entire outer structure. The skin is wrapped around these main columns generating a double curvature glass facade providing opportunities for water collection, integrated solar panels, and operable windows allowing ventilation through atrium spaces. Over 750 to 1250 trees planted within the forestation areas surrounding the building intend to offset the site's projected carbon footprint.
