Situated on Zhongshan North Road, a key route connecting central Taipei with its northern districts, the tower is expected to become a visual landmark in the area, which is primarily composed of low- to mid-rise buildings. The structure's prominent and unconventional design aims to stand out within this setting, enhancing the neighborhood’s urban landscape.
Each of the 93 residential units in the tower features a unique floorplan. MVRDV achieved this level of customization using “digital scripting” technology to determine the placement of the protruding window boxes. This approach allowed for a wide variety of apartment layouts, contributing to the project’s name, “Out of the Box.” The protrusions extend up to six meters from the main structure, offering residents expansive views of the surrounding mountains and cityscape.
The tower includes multifunctional public amenities at its ground level and a shared terrace at the top, designed to encourage community interaction among residents. These features support both social engagement and recreational use within the development.
Winy Maas, MVRDV founder, explained the design approach: “Considering this building’s location and its low-rise neighbours, we knew that this would be a building for viewing – something to see, and something to see from. How could we express that in our design? The boxes popping out from the building signify this quality. They literally reach out into the surroundings, providing ideal lookout platforms to see the mountains and the city. From the street, they form distinctive, eye-catching features for passers-by.”
By integrating expressive design with functionality, the project aims to redefine residential architecture in Taipei’s urban context. The dynamic composition of the tower is not only a visual statement but also responds to the needs of modern living, with individually tailored apartments and access to open-air spaces.
With its planned location in a prominent area and its use of contemporary design methods, “Out of the Box” reflects a modern architectural vision focused on personalization, interaction with the environment, and strong visual identity. The project adds to MVRDV’s portfolio of innovative urban architecture and contributes to the evolving skyline of Taipei.
