Dutch architecture powerhouse MVRDV has unveiled its striking design for “Out of the Box“, a 25-storey residential tower poised to become a defining landmark in Taipei’s northern Tianmu neighbourhood. Situated prominently on Zhongshan North Road, a major artery connecting central Taipei to its northern districts, the tower leverages its visibility with a bold, gridded marble façade punctuated by an array of dynamic, cantilevered volumes. These protrusions create coveted outdoor spaces – loggias, balconies, and terraces – offering residents panoramic views towards downtown Taipei and the lush mountains of Yangmingshan National Park.
Designed for Win Sing Development Company, the project occupies a pivotal small block. Given Tianmu’s predominantly low-to-mid-rise character, the Out of the Box tower is destined to stand out. Its design brilliance lies in transforming complex Taiwanese building regulations governing outdoor areas into a creative catalyst. MVRDV conducted a meticulous study, cross-referencing rules to develop a “catalogue of boxes” that pop out from the rigid grid.
This catalogue manifests as diverse outdoor experiences: simple balconies, combined “loggia-balconies,” and expansive double-height spaces linked to duplex apartments. The largest cantilevers achieve an impressive six-meter depth. This clever arrangement ingeniously combines a two-meter interior extension, a two-meter covered loggia, and a two-meter open balcony, often complemented by a terrace on the level above.
While the core apartment layouts utilize a limited set of repeating types, the strategic application of these cantilevered boxes introduces subtle variations throughout the building’s 93 units. Digital scripting played a crucial role, optimizing the size and placement of each box based on factors like sun exposure, resulting in the tower’s uniquely sculpted and playful silhouette. This innovative approach allows MVRDV to deliver the efficiency benefits of standardization in services and core layout, while simultaneously ensuring every apartment boasts a unique floorplan and distinct character – truly going “outside the box”.
“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,” explains MVRDV founding partner Winy Maas. “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.”
Beyond the tower itself, the project revitalizes the Zhongshan Road streetscape. A new low-rise structure seamlessly continues the roofline and façade lines of adjacent shops, yet clearly relates to the tower through its shared grid language and materials. Existing shop owners will be relocated into new ground-floor spaces within this building.
The development prioritizes resident amenity. Landscaping encircling the tower’s base integrates a multifunctional space on the ground floor, featuring a swimming pool. This green zone flows naturally into a small park nestled between neighbouring buildings. Completing the outdoor offerings, a communal terrace crowns the rooftop, providing elevated panoramic views and social space.
Out of the Box marks MVRDV’s inaugural housing project in Taiwan, expanding their footprint following the acclaimed public space Tainan Spring (2020) and Tainan Market (2022). The firm’s significant Sun Rock project for Taipower, showcasing ambitious sustainable energy integration, is also nearing completion on the island. With its ingenious response to regulations, sculptural presence, and commitment to unique resident experiences within a standardized framework, the Tianmu tower exemplifies MVRDV’s innovative approach to high-density living, pushing architectural possibilities literally and figuratively out of the box.