OMA's Taipei Housing Renewal Lets Residents Shape an Alternative to the Standard Tower
Residents from the Yulin Yuan Community in Taipei's Songshan district have selected OMA to revamp their housing complex from the 1960s, envisioning the Songshan Urban Renewal Residence on a 6,825 square meter plot. More than 70% of Taipei's dwellings are over three decades old, with numerous pre-1974 buildings not meeting seismic safety regulations. The 2024 Disaster-Prevention Urban Renewal initiative in Taiwan provides incentives for the reconstruction of at-risk structures. OMA's preliminary design includes two interlocking 24-story towers that enhance natural light and airflow while echoing the local balcony design. Amenities will feature a second-floor platform, direct ground access to schools and a park, a community room below ground, and rooftop gardens. The project is commissioned by Yulin Yuan Urban Renewal Residence, with HHAA Associates serving as the architect of record.
Key facts
- Residents of Taipei's Songshan Yulin Yuan Community appointed OMA to redevelop their 1960s housing block.
- The project is named Songshan Urban Renewal Residence and is located in Taipei, Taiwan.
- Site area is 6,825 square meters.
- More than 70% of Taipei's housing is over 30 years old.
- Buildings constructed before 1974 may not meet contemporary seismic standards.
- Taiwan's Disaster-Prevention Urban Renewal policy was introduced in 2024.
- OMA's proposal includes two 24-story residential towers composed of four interlocking vertical slabs.
- The design preserves the 'front and rear balcony' typology from the original neighborhood.
- Shared amenities include a semi-open platform, ground floor retail, a community living room, and rooftop sky gardens.
- David Gianotten is OMA Managing Partner; Chiaju Lin is Project Director in Taiwan.
- The project is at schematic design stage.
- Client: Yulin Yuan Urban Renewal Residence.
- Architect of record: HHAA Associates Architects.
- Facade consultant: VS-A Group.
- Structural engineer: Chuang Wei Structural Engineering, Inc.
- MEP: Rounghua Engineering Consultants.
- Real estate agent: Sheng-Long Development Co., Ltd.
Entities
Artists
- David Gianotten
- Chiaju Lin
- Gabriel Duarte
- Danny Arakji
- Annalot Brockhoff
- Yuan-Fu Chiou
- Ekaterina Pestriakova
- Chun-Chang Tsai
- Nicole Tsai
- Yichin Wang
- Stefania Trozzi
- Diego Iacono
- Nevena Ivanovic
Institutions
- OMA
- Songshan Yulin Yuan Community
- Yulin Yuan Urban Renewal Residence
- HHAA Associates Architects
- VS-A Group
- Chuang Wei Structural Engineering, Inc.
- Rounghua Engineering Consultants
- Sheng-Long Development Co., Ltd.
- designboom
Locations
- Taipei
- Taiwan