Qingpu Sales Center and Show Flat

Qingpu, a newly developed district in Taoyuan, is not only brimming with potential for transportation and industrial development but also carries visions of a future cityscape. The Banqiao Sales Center and Show Flat was established in this area, inspired by Taiwan’s local hydrological feature—the pítáng (irrigation ponds). The design team translated the ecological texture into architectural language, using an undulating rooftop to symbolize rippling water, and placing scattered box-shaped masses underneath to echo the terrain. The project aims to sketch out a new architectural impression that resonates with the city’s rhythm while preserving its native essence.

UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION／DIFFERENTIATION 

The light-toned canopy roof is the most defining architectural element of the project. Composed of two overlapping asymmetrical elliptical curves, it resembles a wind-blown bamboo hat or an upright lotus leaf basking in the sun. The precise angles direct rainwater down in beaded curtains, creating a poetic scene during rain and a picturesque one on sunny days. A circular skylight at the center allows natural light and drifting clouds to enter, serving as a framed view to the sky.

     By night, the roof shelters the structure below, supported by 40 slender columns. These columns are staggered, echoing the stacked boxes beneath. Uplighting, wall washers, and curved strip lights compose a symphony of light and shadow, giving the architecture a breathing quality. The cubic forms grow organically from the earth, while glass surfaces and greenery allow transparency by day and warmth by night. The structure seamlessly blends rugged and delicate textures, exuding layered ambiance around the clock.

PRODUCTION OR REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY (AND MATERIALS) 

The building’s palette employs beige, grey-white, and dark grey tones to echo the memory of local ponds and earth. The rooftop structure is supported by H-beams and C-shaped steel frames, clad in muted mineral panels and cast-in-place concrete to create a sense of weight. The staggered façade features a mix of rammed earth panels and glass, balancing ruggedness and lightness. Overall, the material combination achieves a calm yet grounded aesthetic, both visually and functionality.

SPECIFICATIONS / DIMENSIONS / PACKAGE / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES 

The building covers approximately 1,018 square meters as a two-story, standalone structure, with high ceilings throughout. Although the appearance mimics stacked boxes, the interior is configured as an open, integrated space. Visitors enter from the front plaza and proceed through display and consultation areas, ending at the rear landscaped walkway and a lattice-style exit. Natural light connects the two levels via high-set windows, enabling smooth vertical flow.

CHALLENGE

The most complex technical challenge was the roof’s design and structural implementation. Acting like a hat over the entire building, the roof spans beyond the footprint below. It had to appear light while remaining structurally resilient to withstand typhoons and heavy rains. Formed from two asymmetrical overlapping curved planes, the shell measures only 70–90 cm in thickness with varying curvature, requiring precise drainage, shading, and load distribution. Through repeated structural simulations and wind-rain testing, the team fine-tuned the slope and steel joint placements—ultimately achieving a roof that sheds rain effortlessly and floats like wings under sunlight.

OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION／FUNCTION

Since opening, the project has drawn significant public attention—not only as a sales center but as a new landmark in Qingpu. Visitors are often amazed by the structure’s contrasting daytime and nighttime expressions. Especially at dusk, when the lights inside and outside illuminate in tandem, the building exhibits balanced brightness and comforting visuals. The client praised the building for reinforcing brand memory and serving not just as a functional facility, but also as a vessel for storytelling and brand narrative.

"When water touches architecture, it should become poetry."

     As rain cascades down the curved roof, it forms flowing curtains that sparkle with light and echo with wind. The fluid converges into a pond, and each line of the building becomes a reimagining of natural elements.

     The rooftop, like a reflective pool, captures clouds and light—merging time and space into a singular experience. The staggered architectural masses beneath seem to grow organically from the earth, while rammed earth panels and glass surfaces mirror the shifting surroundings.

This building blends seamlessly with nature. It doesn’t shout for attention but slowly enters the visitor’s awareness through gentle cues. On sunny days, one can stroll beneath the shaded canopy and look up to the open sky, laying thoughts bare to the light. At dusk, the glowing cubes shimmer dreamily, turning the glass façade into a transparent page of poetry. The adjacent lawn and path extend this poetic form into everyday life.

RESEARCH ABSTRACT 

The project, located in Qingpu, Taoyuan, draws from Taiwan’s iconic irrigation ponds to reinterpret water ripples as two overlapping sloped roof forms. Resembling a lightweight hat suspended over the building, the design channels rainwater downward while its central cut-out brings in sky views and natural light. Below, 40 slender columns support interlocked volumes that appear to emerge naturally from the ground. The nighttime lighting composition—featuring curved lines, wall washers, and column uplights—gives the building both transparency and radiance throughout the day.

     Materials include rammed earth, mineral panels, cast-in-place concrete, and glass, all in a soft beige and grey palette to reflect the surrounding natural terrain. The high-ceilinged space integrates front-to-back ventilation and a slatted rear entrance to enhance comfort and sustainability. Despite the expansive rooftop, the design maintains a sense of lightness. Whether in sun or rain, day or night, the building responds poetically to Qingpu’s unique cultural and environmental rhythm.

IMPACT /SUSTAINABILITY

In the subtropical climate’s variable conditions, the shading rooftop effectively blocks intense sunlight. The tall ceilings and ventilated lattice rear entrance enable natural airflow, maintaining interior comfort without excessive reliance on mechanical systems.

     Surrounding the building are planted buffers and grass zones that facilitate rainwater absorption and reduce heat island effects. Materials were selected for durability and low maintenance, including cast concrete and rammed earth that reflect the land’s essence while avoiding unnecessary ornamentation. Dual access points front and rear enhance spatial efficiency and transparency—allowing people, wind, and light to freely coexist. This architecture embraces nature while inviting people inside to experience sustainability firsthand.