WoodTek HQ

Overlooking the Farze Crook by the high speed train rail, WoodTek headquarters building is the first ever CLT building in Taiwan. We wanted this architecture to be a landmark not just in it's physical appearance but also as a symbolic approach of Green Architecture development in Asia. Should this CLT building proves to be successful, the landscape of Taiwan's concrete dominated urban jungle will change dramatically. Until today, most of the buildings in Taiwan's urban area are built out of concrete which is against global movement toward low carbon and eco friendly Green Architecture. CLT construction will provide more opportunities for users in urban area to utilize wood, a renewable green material, for both low rise and high rise buildings ; for the private and the public. To design a CLT building in Taiwan, we have to face several challenges. The first one is the Durability of CLT building in hot and humid climate condition in Taiwan. Pressure Equalized Rainscreen System is applied in this building's envelope to prevent wind driven water into building assemblies. First floor is raised above ground and sits on top of concrete basement to keep away moisture from soil and to prevent attacks from Formosan Subterranean Termites. Termites attack might be minor issue in most of the European countries but is a major concern in Taiwan. "How to keep the building Dry" becomes one of the major issues throughout design and construction process. Structure system is another challenge for this project. We made this building step forward instead of back to express the advantage of using panels as walls and floors. We also tried to break the stereotype of " boxlike " CLT construction image. In it's exterior shape, architectural expression is articulated by the combination of solid walls and transparent glass staircase. In side of the buildings, light penetrating through this staircase casts a dramatic space effect. By making this building from theory to reality , we are writing a new page in Taiwan's history of Architecture.