Hongzhu Housing Sales Center located in Taoyuan City, Taiwan was inspired by the dragon, a prominent symbol for luck and success in Chinese culture. Built in 2012 and designed by Lab Modus, the new two-story structure had a long and narrow site which the architect had to take into consideration when protecting from the sun.
© Chih-Ming Wu
Its large windowed façade faces the street while the long side wall complements it with the faceted and perforated metal panels which also serve to prevent direct sunlight into the interior space.
© Chih-Ming Wu
It features a parking garage and entrance located at ground level with office and meeting spaces above. By patterning the facets along the side walls, one can see the design inspiration of the dragon’s elongated scaled body which creates continuity throughout the center.
© Chih-Ming Wu
Its seemingly opaque and heavy structure is complemented by using a light metal material with extensive hidden glazing behind angular forms. Gaps in the outer shell allow for natural ventilation and diffuse and indirect light while minimizing solar heat gain and the need for air conditioning.
Project info:
Architects: Lab Modus
Country: Taiwan
Area: 1200 m²
Year: 2012
Photographs: Chih-Ming Wu
Anastasia Andreieva is an accomplished Architectural Projects Editor at Arch2O, bringing a unique blend of linguistic expertise and design enthusiasm to the team. Born and raised in Ukraine, she holds a Master’s degree in Languages from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her deep passion for architecture and visual storytelling led her to transition from translation and editorial roles into the world of design media. With a keen eye for conceptual clarity and narrative structure, Anastasia curates and presents global architectural projects with precision and flair. She is particularly drawn to parametric and digital design, cultural context, and emerging voices in architecture. When I’m not analyzing the latest architectural trends, you’ll probably find me searching for hidden gems in cityscapes or appreciating the beauty of well-crafted spaces. After all, great design—like great connections—can be found in the most unexpected places. Speaking of connections, because architecture isn’t the only thing that brings people together.