Keng-Fu Lo - Habitat 29: a place that can take you away while being aesthetically pleasing
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Habitat 29: a place that can take you away while being aesthetically pleasing

Keng-Fu Lo

Housing  /  Future
Keng-Fu Lo
The client is a well-known force in the construction industry. They wanted to construct a new residential skyscraper. There were two significant challenges: the first being the size of the property and the second being the rules governing skyscrapers in Taiwan. Secondly Taiwan is in an earthquake zone meaning rules for construction are stricter than in other countries. Hope to create upscale apartments for people who are willing to pay a premium for an impressive location, environmental features and a greater integration with the natural environment.
The property is located on the banks of the Love River, overlooking the mountains and rivers of the port of Kaohsiung. Once constructed, it will be 29 floors high and will allow its residents to have a fantastic view of the city and the river.
The building is primarily white and this layer continues from the base to the outer frame of the high-rise floor. The white layer contrasts with the low-reflective black aluminum metal plate. When light hits the framework at different times, light and shadow appear differently in each space. At the same time, it expresses people's demand for a habitat in the natural environment and highlights the concept of habitat protection for all things.
In any habitat, you have to have greenery, foliage and shrubbery and Habitat 29 tried to be as green as possible. A large amount of greenery exists on the relay and roof layer of the building. This is integrated into the green roof irrigation system, enabling the green space to achieve energy-saving benefits through its system and plant greenery. Its energy-saving value U is 0.38, which reduces radiant heat conduction. Plants and greenery make the building conforms to nature and integrates into the entire Kaohsiung harbor.
Living in Taiwan, the summer heat lasts for approximately 9 months out of the year. The facade uses energy-saving panels and the white paint not only prevents heat conduction, but also reduces the maintenance cost of the building. 32mm-thick Low-E glass was used for the exterior of the building, with a heat transfer coefficient U of 1.19. In summer, heat radiation such as ultraviolet and near-infrared rays of the sun can be blocked from entering the room. In winter, glass can reflect most of the radiation back indoors to ensure that indoor heat is not lost to the outdoors while maintaining sufficient brightness. The withdrawal of the building allows for a balcony, which can reduce direct sunlight exposure to the room and reduce the rate of air conditioning consumption.
Walking around the project you will notice it is surrounded by the U-shaped glass wall on the first floor allowing the residents to connect with the outside but still maintain some aspect of privacy and isolation. This wall reduces both visual and auditory noise. A large window is on the right side of the reception and opposite the entrance. A landscape pool was created, that extends from the outdoor to the interior forging a connection and interaction between the interior and the exterior. The flowing ripple reflection of the landscape pool adds an aesthetic level and a sense of nature to the interior hall. A lot of foliage and trees are planted around the building and the driveway to form a natural canopy for the entrance and exit of the driveway. At the same time, proper greenery can also promote the coordination between nature and the building.
We wanted to create a vibrant simplistic space incorporating nature to create an environment that people want to come home to in this fast paced and often stressful world. A place that can take you away while being aesthetically pleasing to all who come upon it. It is hoped that other skyscrapers and architects will take notice when they are creating sustainable living for the future.

Credits

 Kaohsiung City
 Taiwan
 Confidential
 12/2024
 18584 mq
 Keng-Fu Lo
 Keng-Fu Lo

Curriculum

Ken Lo is a well-known architect operating a boutique firm in the south of Taiwan. While having no formal training in architecture, in a relatively short time he has managed to assemble an impressive array of projects that have won numerous awards. These days his projects are all energy-saving green buildings. This means that all his buildings ensure adequate ventilation and airflow to minimize the need for extra cooling. Within a building, the interweaving of natural light and artificial light provides a sense of stability in the indoor environment. Mr. Lo's relationship with the green environment, architecture and interior space are all presented in his work. This bears similarities between people, life and living space. The thread of nature is something that he has held dear throughout his life and is something he hopes to carry forward into the future.

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