Vincent Callebaut Architectures has unveiled images of their innovative twin spiral tower currently under construction in Taiwan, China. Inspired by the twisting structure of DNA, this prefabricated tower will be adorned with 23,000 trees, embodying a groundbreaking approach to sustainable residential architecture that fosters a harmonious relationship between humans and nature.
The Tao Zhu Yin Yuan sustainable tower, located in Taipei City’s Xinjin District, showcases a rotating form modeled after the double helix of DNA. The building’s extensive greenery aims to create a pioneering ecological residential space that achieves the perfect symbiosis between people and the natural environment.
Following approval from the project committee in 2010, Vincent Callebaut Architects embarked on the vision of creating an “inhabited tree” – a vertical landscape fragment designed to minimize energy consumption.
Winning the project commission through a 2010 competition, the architects aimed to design a building that integrates nature and architecture, forming a vertical ecosystem with sustainable energy use.
The tower features a 20-story design, twisting 90 degrees from base to top, with each floor rotating by 4.5 degrees. This unique form was selected based on four key criteria:
- Integrating the cone-shaped building volume in harmony with urban life characteristics.
- Maximizing the size of outdoor gardens on every floor.
- Offering panoramic views of Taipei to all residents.
- Ensuring privacy by preventing direct sightlines between apartments.
This design creates a vertical, pyramidal profile that supports cascading, suspended open-air gardens while maintaining privacy and spectacular city views.
The design capitalizes on the region’s climate and environmental conditions to enhance ecological sustainability. Vincent Callebaut Architectures conducted detailed analyses on daylight, thermal performance, and wind to optimize natural lighting and ventilation throughout the building.
Moreover, the extensive vegetation covering the tower will absorb approximately 130 tons of carbon dioxide annually, significantly contributing to air purification and environmental health.
The building’s central core employs a double-layer curtain wall system, enabling passive climate control for vertical circulation and interior spaces. Additional environmental features include:
- Rainwater harvesting and recycling systems
- Low-emissivity (low-e) glass
- Photovoltaic solar panels on rooftops and canopies
- Energy-efficient elevators
- Automated energy-saving monitors adapting to climate conditions
This comprehensive approach ensures sustainability and efficiency at every level of the building.
The floor plans alternate between two standard layouts to accommodate the Virendeel beam structural system. Each unit offers 550 square meters of column-free floor space, allowing residents maximum flexibility in interior design and use.
Additional amenities include a swimming pool, a fitness center, and multiple levels of integrated parking facilities, ensuring convenience and comfort for residents.
The Tao Zhu Yin Yuan project is scheduled for completion in September 2017.
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