Dutch architect MVRDV and Taiwan’s HWC Architects have unveiled the design for a series of buildings with a look inspired by the surrounding natural rocks in Jialeshui, on Taiwan’s south coast.
Located within Kenting National Park, the project will add three sculptural buildings, the largest of which will house a welcome centre, café and souvenir shop. The rock-inspired façade has a roof that will allow for stargazing and panoramic views.
The other structures will contain exhibition space, educational areas and toilets.
Surrounding the buildings will be public plazas designed for events and markets.
Smaller “stops” are positioned at points of interest along the walking route, viewing deck, lookout point and a waterfall.
As well as the buildings, MVRDV’s design reroutes the old road, improving access for pedestrians, cyclists and shuttle buses, with rest areas and viewpoints.
Cracks will be made in the pavement to manage stormwater and reduce damage from typhoons and flooding.
Winy Maas, MVRDV founder, said: “What you see today at Jialeshui shows a clear boundary between the natural and the artificial; in turn, this artificial trail separates nature from itself, separating forest from coastline.
“In our design, the artificial elements … take the shape of the surrounding nature, like natural extensions of the site rather than foreign objects. Our goal was never to impose architecture on the landscape, but to let it emerge from the natural conditions; to break the monotony of the straight line… and to emphasise that Nature Rocks!”
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