This project is located at Keelung, one of the earliest developed cities of northern Taiwan. It is a mountainous and rainy harbor city with more than 50% hills. The site is located on a steep hill of average 50% slope where the urban landscape is uniquely blending into the natural landscape and the weather is humid and rainy all year long.
The concept is to adapt an indigenous building style of this area, generally called “mountain house” in Taiwan, that we have taken into our main building elements to the landscape and climate. The big sloping roof become a new layer of the mountain skin, the balconies and openings through the big roof form unique spaces in-between the landscape and the building. There will be people and activities going in and out through this new layer and conversation between firefighter and residents will taking places on this roof.
This big slope roof also follows the mountain landscape and minimize the time of water staying on the roof, which improving the rainwater drainage. The balconies create additional depth in the summer to avoid direct sunlight but still allows the ventilation. In the rainy season it creates the airflow for the ventilation going out towards the sky lights. The central staircase also acts as the chimney to vent the hot air. Through the central stair to the bridge at the back of the building connects to the landscape area contributes to the urban resilience acting as emergency supply path to the designated shelter park up above.
Fire Station could be a very important landmark in a neighborhood. The design could be symbolic yet still blending into the environment. We believe through this project, it successfully connects the environment, climate, lights and spaces in a boldly and also adaptively way.