Taipei Arcadia Introduction
The coexistence of the past and present: restructuring spatial patterns at "N24 Taipei Ark," originally part of the Taiwan Power Company's warehouse complex, was once the Matsuyama plant of the Taiwan Electric Company during the Japanese colonial period and later served as the Matsuyama maintenance factory after the war. Initially, the building was used as a warehouse, which resulted in poor lighting and ventilation conditions in its design. After understanding the functional requirements and characteristics of the volume, the design team, in line with the Eastern District Portal Project, aimed to convert it for office use. The renovation technique involved separating the warehouse volume and extending it outward, allowing more natural light to enter the interiors. The high ceiling in the rooftop area redefines the office space, enabling vertical relationships to open up. Introducing new functions to respond to contemporary trends, the design team adopted the concept of community flow to break spatial limitations and plan flexible areas for offices, discussions, and relaxation, allowing users to maintain a sense of freedom and interaction while working. Additionally, considering that the building is a historical structure, the design team preserved the exterior materials and overall signs of use during the renovation, complementing them with new steel structures to highlight the beauty of the original materials. This restoration approach respects the historical context and retains some original features, enabling us to see the wall's patina and the traces left by time from various perspectives. Ascending to the second floor and entering the office space of the "Blockchain Incubation Center," the design team chose to use shear walls as point structures, addressing issues arising from the age of the building while preserving the beauty of the existing reinforced concrete structure. Following the light and the central spiral staircase, one arrives at the rooftop area. The sloped volume of the rooftop courtyard allows adequate light to enter, with the design of the volume shape resonating with the imagery of "ark," becoming a representative symbol of the park's entrance. Expanding the context, redefining community space, the design team observes contemporary community connections and, together with the "Blockchain Center" as office space at "N24 Taipei Ark," broadens the definition of "community" to encompass interactive "communities." Regardless of physical or relational aspects, this indeed depicts future patterns of human interaction and is a significant developmental trend. The core concept, combined with design techniques, creates a human-centered architectural space that revitalizes the charm of the area.
