Iron Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2025
Climate Center Public Building
by Environmental Protection Bureau Yunlin
- A' Design Award 2025 Iron Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Environmental Protection Bureau
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 8,410
- Verification code BA9C33AB37 · Verify this award
About Climate Center Public Building
Climate Center is a public building designed for an environmental protection bureau in Yunlin, Taiwan. The building has six floors and one basement level, with a total floor area of about 11,000 square meters. An L-shaped layout guides wind flow and reduces the heat island effect. Offices follow a three-dimensional settlement concept, with independent units placed around shared meeting rooms and public areas. Reinforced concrete, metal frames, wood and vertical greenery shape the structure. A glass curtain wall brings in daylight and lowers the need for artificial lighting.
Environmental Protection Bureau, Yunlin's Climate Center Public Building engages meaningfully with contemporary architectural discourse surrounding biophilic design principles and the urgent imperative to integrate ecological functions within urban building typologies, positioning itself within a global movement toward regenerative architecture that seeks not merely to minimize environmental harm but to actively contribute to urban ecosystem health, biodiversity support, and human psychological wellbeing through direct connection with living natural systems. The compositional achievement evident in this rendering demonstrates sophisticated understanding of how cascading planted terraces can create distinctive architectural identity while serving multiple functional purposes, the rhythmic horizontal stratification of vegetation establishing clear formal order and visual coherence while suggesting practical benefits including passive cooling through evapotranspiration, air quality improvement through particulate filtration and oxygen production, stormwater retention and management, urban heat island mitigation, pollinator habitat provision, and potential food production if plantings include edible species, these ecological services integrated seamlessly with the building's institutional program rather than applied as superficial greenwashing gesture. The technical resolution of the structural system, with its warm timber frame clearly expressed on the exterior and suggesting post-and-beam construction with generous cantilevers supporting the planted terraces, demonstrates material intelligence and tectonic clarity that recall vernacular timber building traditions while employing contemporary engineering capabilities to achieve spans and configurations beyond historical precedent, the visible structure establishing human-scaled rhythm and tactile warmth that counters the potential monumentality of the building's overall scale. The transparent glazed base creates essential permeability between interior institutional functions and the surrounding civic plaza, suggesting democratic accessibility and visual connection that invites community engagement while providing daylight penetration deep into the building's floor plates, this transparency serving both practical environmental performance goals and symbolic communication of institutional openness and public service orientation. The careful integration of landscape elements, both within the building envelope through the planted terraces and in the surrounding plaza through mature specimen trees and manicured hedge elements, suggests design thinking that transcends conventional boundaries between architecture and landscape architecture, treating the building and its immediate site as unified environmental system rather than discrete objects, this holistic approach reflecting emerging paradigms in sustainable urban design that recognize the interdependence of built form, botanical systems, hydrological cycles, and microclimate conditions. The rendering's careful attention to human presence through the inclusion of figures inhabiting the plaza establishes the building's purpose as fundamentally social and civic, a gathering place serving community needs and fostering public life, these human elements crucial for understanding the design's success not merely as formal or technical achievement but as meaningful contribution to urban public realm and collective experience. The work invites viewers to consider how institutional architecture might evolve beyond conventional typologies of isolated autonomous buildings toward more porous, ecologically integrated, and visibly responsive structures that make environmental functions legible and celebration-worthy rather than concealed within mechanical systems, suggesting architecture's potential role in fostering ecological awareness and modeling sustainable practices for broader public audiences through its very physical presence and operational visibility.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The new building departs from rigid government architecture, drawing inspiration from settlements. Office spaces form interconnected communities with a multi-layered layout, allowing departments to function independently while sharing open areas that foster interaction. The L-shaped design optimizes wind flow, reducing energy use and ensuring adaptability. Beyond administration, it offers public spaces like an international conference hall and green plaza, fostering engagement. Inspired by farmland patterns, its structure and green walls blend with the rural landscape, creating a seamless visual connection amid urban growth.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The building consists of six floors and one basement level, with a total floor area of approximately 11,000 square meters.
To ensure that the structure blends harmoniously with the surrounding rural landscape rather than appearing overly imposing, the L-shaped layout was strategically designed to channel wind flow and mitigate the heat island effect. Internally, the project adopts a 'three-dimensional settlement' concept, segmenting different office areas into relatively independent units while maintaining a core dedicated to shared meeting rooms and public activity spaces. - Tags
- Yunlin, High Speed Rail, Farmland, Sustainable Design, Landscape Integration, Natural Lighting, Diamond-Level Green Building, Smart Building, Water Recycling, Climate Change Adaptation Center.
- Production Technology
- The building's exterior blends metal frameworks, wooden elements, and greenery, merging modernity with nature. Reinforced concrete ensures durability, while a wooden lobby adds warmth. The metal facade enhances weather resistance and supports vertical greenery, making the structure feel enveloped by nature. Inside, wood and a natural palette create a welcoming atmosphere. A glass curtain wall maximizes natural light, reducing artificial lighting needs and improving energy efficiency. This design not only fosters comfort but also reflects a commitment to sustainability and harmonious urban integration.
- Design Challenge
- A major challenge was the uncertainty of urban development. With the High-Speed Rail Special Zone still evolving, architects designed a flexible, scalable L-shaped layout to adapt to future growth. Another challenge was balancing rural aesthetics with urban functions. Thoughtful architectural language ensures a seamless transition between tradition and modernity. Sustainability efforts, including zero-wastewater discharge and wind flow optimization, required extensive testing to achieve efficiency. The result is a forward-thinking design that harmonizes with its surroundings while remaining adaptable to future urban dynamics.
- Project Duration
- The project finished in December 2026 in Taiwan.
- Operation Flow
- Employees of the Environmental Protection Bureau look forward to the new office, especially the 'collaborative workspace model,' which enhances communication and resource sharing. Improved natural lighting, green design, and ventilation create a more comfortable environment, moving away from rigid government office norms. Residents appreciate the building's open, accessible design, with shared conference spaces and public facilities transforming it into a vibrant community hub. This integration strengthens its role as a key venue for local events and public engagement, fostering greater connection and interaction.
- Research
- Comprising six above-ground floors and a basement, it follows a 'three-dimensional settlement' concept, ensuring office spaces remain independent yet connected. Reinforced concrete enhances durability, while a metal framework supports vertical greenery. The international conference hall accommodates over 200 people for global events. Sustainability is key, with natural lighting, zero-wastewater discharge, and wind optimization. Wood and greenery enrich the design, harmonizing urban growth with the rural landscape.
- Inspiration
- The project is in the Yunlin High-Speed Rail Special Zone, transforming from a rural area into a dynamic urban hub. As the high-speed rail drives growth, administrative, industrial, and residential functions emerge, blending tradition with modernity. More than a government facility, the new building helps define the city's identity. The design balances rural essence with modern efficiency, creating a sustainable landmark. Through thoughtful architecture, it embodies the harmony of urban development and ecological responsibility, shaping a future-ready, integrated environment.
- Image Credits
- Environmental Protection Bureau, Yunlin County
Colors of Climate Center Public Building
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