Read the article HERE.
Below is the full translation.
Pebble-shaped Lè Architecture at Nangang beats hundreds of competitors to win Best International Office Architecture
Walking through Nangang district in Taipei, it is hard not to be attracted to this building. The design of the office building drew inspiration from the river pebbles of Jilong River, is set to be a unique landmark in Taiwan. It takes six years to complete and it beats hundreds of winning projects from Europe, Africa and the Americas to win the ultimate Best International Office Architecture.
Situated close to the Nangang Software Park area, Lè Architecture has a site area of 21,168 square feet, with two buildings including a large pebble-shaped building with almost 100,000 square feet spreading across 15 above-ground floors and three underground floors and a two-storey building with an area of 6,804 square feet. The appearance of the buildings echoes with the Chinese name of the building「砳」 (literally ‘two stones’), sitting along the Jilong River like two stones and symbolising an endless life.
Lè Architecture is designed by Andy Wen, Aedas’ Global Design Principal, who is born in Taiwan and relocated to the US when he was eight. Now living in Beijing, Andy has more than 25 years of experience. His designs, encompassing mixed-use developments, offices, hotels, educational and cultural facilities, have earned him numerous international awards including World Architecture Festival Awards, MIPIM Asia Awards, American Institute of Architects Awards, etc.
Wen has integrated his deep understanding and passion for his hometown Taiwan into the design of the architecture, combining his expertise and cultural sensitivity, creating this masterpiece which sets to interpret the identity of the entire region.
Combining green features with a unique form, Lè Architecture opens to media for the first time
Lè Architecture was open to the media for the first time on 15 December. According to Andy Wen, Lè Architecture is Taiwan’s first building conceived with environmental sustainability in mind at the initial stage of design which helped it achieved a LEED gold certification. The 60-metre tall office building employs multiple strategies for adding greenery to its façade and is focused on minimizing energy demands. Taiwanese do not like the western sun. The western wall features a ‘breathing facade’ with a series of vertical aluminum fins and green planters providing sufficient sun-shading for interior office spaces and effectively lower the temperature in the interiors which reduces the need for mechanical cooling during summer.
Facing Jilong River to the north are a series of outdoor terraces for occupants to enjoy the river view. The ‘urban living rooms’ on the south are communal areas like pantries, cafes, small libraries and breakout areas. Offices are no longer a closed box.
When a ‘sensible’ architect meets a ‘rational’ developer
Lè Architecture leads the trend for office buildings in Taiwan, thanks to the other important person behind the project – General Manager Cai Bo Ang (蔡伯昂) from the developer Earnest Development & Construction. Cai is also an architect. While communicating with Wen he had to persuade the shareholders and project team to approve the design.
Speaking about Cai, Wen said, “He is very special among all of my clients (developers) because he fully supports what we do. Maybe because he is also an architect that our thoughts of architectural ideal are very similar.”
Wen pointed out a major difference between Cai and other developers, “He insisted to build a landmark architecture!” Having this in mind, Cai insisted not to compromise anything at the expense of design requirements. “I don’t always talk to clients about matters other than the projects. Cai is the only one that I hang out with and we talk about work and other stuff.”
Born in Taiwan with Lè Architecture as his first work in Taiwan
Wen was born in Taiwan and moved to the United States when he was a child; but he has not forgotten his home country and is still in love with the place he used to live. With over 25 years of experience in architectural design, Wen handled a number of design projects in mainland China, and often skyscrapers of over 60 storeys with sizes 20 times bigger than Lè Architecture. However he admitted, “This is the project that I visited many times and spent a lot of time and energy on. Le Architecture is at my home country and I am very concerned about it.”
Wen’s passion for architecture design has helped him generate many creative and iconic architecture which have earned him numerous international design excellence awards. His works cover a wide range of sectors, including many iconic mixed-use architecture, office buildings, five-star hotels, shopping malls, education and cultural facilities, etc.
“I cannot accept designing ‘average’ architecture,” Wen said proudly. To him a building design that worth his time is not just about a unique form. It has to have a story and something special. “A building may take six year to complete. How many six years does one have in his life?”
“There are landmark buildings in every city. For instance, we have pyramids in Egypt and the Louvre in Paris. The architecture I want to create is one that interacts with people and can arouse people’s interest to know more about its story and background,” said Wen.
