MONARCH designed by Oyler Wu Collaborative, When it comes to large-scale residential buildings, a complex set of economic, urban, and regulatory systems sometimes seem to have left little room for architectural exploration.   Architects often struggle to find a point of entry for inserting their creative perspective in a way that would rethink or progress the typology.  The resulting buildings typically reflect the reality of the efficiency-driven market – maximized footprint, relentless repetition, and lowest common denominator design appeal.
Photography: Poyao Shih
When we were first approached by a prominent Taiwanese development company to work on the design of a brand new residential high rise, they expressed interest in finding an architectural approach that challenged these conventions. They were interested in a building that pushed architectural boundaries while simultaneously meeting their economic requirements.
Cautiously optimistic, the developer proposed an arrangement that separated the development of the interior floor plans from the exterior elements, which included balcony floor plans, the front lobby, and all facade design.  This left us with 2.5 meters at the front elevation and 1.5m on the side elevations.  While it certainly wasn’t what most architects would consider ideal, it was just enough to be our point of entry into what would be our office’s biggest project to date.
Photography: Poyao Shih
Our proposal utilizes subtle ...