Taipei Ark Introduction
The coexistence of the past and present redefines spatial patterns at "N24 Taipei Ark." Originally part of the Taiwan Power Company warehouse group, it served as the Matsuyama Factory of the Taiwan Electric Company during the Japanese colonial period and later as the Matsuyama repair shop for Taiwan Power Company after the war. Originally, the building was used as a warehouse, resulting in a design lacking in natural light and ventilation. Understanding the functional use and volume characteristics, the design team aligned with the East District Gateway Project, targeting office use in their design. They separated the warehouse volume and extended it outward, allowing more natural light to flood the interior; the high ceiling on the roof level restructured the office space and expanded vertical relations. In response to new trends of the new era, the design team, employing the concept of community flow, broke spatial limitations and planned flexible spaces for office, discussion, and recreation, allowing users to retain freedom of interaction while working. Additionally, considering the building's historical significance, the team not only reinforced the hardware with steel structure enhancements and seismic walls but also preserved the exterior materials and overall signs of use, highlighting the existing materials with new steel construction. This restoration method, which respects historical context while retaining part of the original appearance, allows us to see the weathering of the walls and the footprints left by time from various perspectives. On the second floor, entering the office space of the “Blockchain Incubation Center,” the design team chose to use seismic walls as point structures to address issues arising from the aging building while preserving the beauty of the existing reinforced concrete structure. Following the light and the central rotating staircase leads to the rooftop area. The slanted volume of the central rooftop is designed to allow ample light into the courtyard through side-opening windows, and the volume's shape echoes the "ark" imagery of "N24 Taipei Ark," becoming a representative symbol of the park's entrance. Extending the context, the design team redefines community space by observing current community connections, expanding the definition of “community” space within "N24 Taipei Ark," the Blockchain Center office, to include interactions of “social groups.” Whether in physical form or relationship, it indeed illustrates future patterns of interaction and serves as a developing trend. The core concept, combining design methods, creates a "human-centered" architectural space that showcases the charm of the area.
