MVRDV has broken ground on the Tainan Xinhua Fruit and Vegetable Market in Taiwan, which will be topped by a terraced green roof for farming.
The giant wholesale and auction market, under construction in the foothills of east Tainan, was commissioned by Tainan City Government Agriculture Bureau to create a food supply hub for the district.
MVRDV worked with local studio LLJ Architects to design the structure, which will be topped by an undulating green roof intended to echo the surrounding landscape. This will serve as a viewing deck, but will also be used for growing crops.
The undulating roof is designed to resemble the surrounding landscape
MVRDV plans to elevate the rooftop farm high above the market to allow sufficient natural ventilation, but it will extend down at the east corner to provide a ground-level access point. The rooftop will be divided into a series of stepped terraces, each tailored to grow a different crop. Seating areas will also be incorporated for visitors to relax and enjoy the view.
The building will contain 180 market plots and auction spaces
"Tainan, in my opinion, is one of those towns which is so beautiful to me because of its nature, agriculture fields, farms, sea, and mountains. Tainan Market can become a building that symbolises this beauty," said Winy Maas, co-founder of MVRDV.
"It is completely functional and caters to the needs for auctioning, selling and buying goods, but its terraced roof, with its collection of growin...