Taishin Tower, Taipei

One of Taipei's finest examples of modern architecture

The Taishin Tower, also known as Taishin International Bank Tower 台新金控大樓 is a new modern landmark in Taipei, located in the Daan district (see a map here). It's not one of the tallest structures in the city (only 123m tall with 25 floors), but it's certainly among the most remarkable ones. It was completed in 2005 and designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. It's located close to one of the biggest roundabouts in Taipei: The Renai Circle. This probably one of the most beautiful examples of modern Taiwanese architecture and certainly one of my favorite buildings in Taipei. I was really lucky to be in Daan on a very bright day.

Let me share some photos of the Taishin Tower with you (March 2011):

The closer you are to the building, the bigger it appears.

This is the edgy western part of the building.

The central part with the entrance is like a wave and it's designed to fit into the Jenai Circle.

The glass facade is marvelous.

The Taishin tower in it's full glory, seen from the northern part of the Jenai circle.

Old and new in harmony.

Read more about the tower's design on Colorcinetics.com.

[My TAIPEI page][My SKYSCRAPERS page][My BUILDINGS IN TAIWAN page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

Far Eastern Plaza, Taipei

The first Taipei twin towers and the tallest hotel in the city

The Far Eastern Plaza 遠企中心, consisting of two identical towers, each 165m tall with 43 floors, is one of the most beautiful pieces of modern architecture in Taipei, located in Daan district. Although the towers were built in 1994 (source), they look as if they were built today. The simplistic design is striking. When you're right below them, you feel as if they're much taller than just 165 meters. I really wish they would've built in Xinyi, close to where Taipei 101 was built 10 years later. Today they're just too far from the central areas of Taipei (Longshan Temple - Zhongzheng - Zhongxiao Road - Xinyi) and hence there aren't so many people found in the area. The buildings are housing the famous Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel and a shopping mall in the lower part. The hotel is arguably one of the best in Taipei (read some opinions or check the hotel's homepage).

See my photos of the skyscrapers (from March 13th, 2011):

It was a great day to take photos, that's why I wanted to see these towers.

I like the mix of sharp and rectangular and oval.

The buildings are housing a luxury hotel.

This is Dunhua South Road, a huge avenue, that has a small park in the middle. Amazing.

Some details of the Far Eastern Plaza. It's definitely worth to visit, if you're an architecture buff.

To find the Far Eastern Plaza, take MRT to Liuzhangli and walk north 10 min (view larger map).

[My TAIPEI page][My SKYSCRAPERS page][My BUILDINGS IN TAIWAN page][Photos by MKL, 2011]

Gate of Taipei Twin Towers

This is currently one of the biggest projects in Taipei

The Gate of Taipei will consist of two skyscrapers, the taller will be 320m, the shorter 240m. The structures were designed by the Japanese architect Fumiko Maki and will be located in Zhongzheng district, that spans over Taipei's old center, very close to the Taipei Main Station. Underneath the biggest tower, the future Taipei station of the Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT System is currently being built. The whole area will be redesigned and is meant to be another modern center of Taipei together with Xinyi. Another thing, that I truly applaud, is the fact, that the old Taipei North Gate will be liberated from those ugly overpasses, that are nearly strangling it like a snake around the throat. The whole area will also be much greener and full of other smaller new buildings. When the project's planned to be completed is still unsure. Let's hope it won't last too long.

The area marked in green will be revitalized.

Here you can find the source of all the information and photos>>

Related: [My TAIPEI page][My SKYSCRAPERS page][My BUILDINGS IN TAIWAN page]

Taipei City Hall Bus Station

One of the tallest buildings in Xinyi

The Taipei City Hall Station building is located close to Taipei 101.

The building from the side.

Another view on the tall structure.

The Taipei City Hall Bus Station (市府轉運站) is a recently built high-rise building in Taipei's modern center Xinyi. With 150m above the sea level and 31 floors it's almost as tall as the nearby 154m tall President International Tower. The lower floors house a big bus station and the MRT station with the same name, while the upper floors are reserved for a shopping mall and a hotel. Personally this building is not a great piece of modern architecture like the building next to it, but it somehow fits well into the area. Although it's quite tall, it's not so dominant like some other buildings in Xinyi. Maybe that's due to the lower part, which is unusually large. It is an interesting building, but not something I would advertise in a tourist brochure.

[BUILDINGS in TAIWAN][My SKYSCRAPERS page][My TAIPEI page][Info: Source][All photos by MKL, 2010]

Taipei 101 supersized photos

Because I know you love them huge

The majestic top of Taipei 101.

I took these photos on March 12, 2010 at 6.32 PM Taipei local time. I'm a huge fan of super tall skyscrapers with a great design. Taipei 101 is definitely one of my favorite skyscrapers ever. I hope you get an idea of how majestic the structure looks in real.

[My TAIPEI 101 post][My TAIPEI page][All photos by MKL, 2010]

OUB Centre, Singapore

One of Singapore's tallest skyscrapers

The OUB Centre together with the UOB Plaza One and the Republic Plaza, is one of the 3 tallest skyscrapers in Singapore. It's 280m tall, has 63 floors and it's mainly used as an office building. There is a shopping mall at the bottom named One Raffles Place. Another tower is being built near the current OUB Centre and will be completed in 2011 (here's a renderering). The whole building will subsequently be renamed as One Raffles Place. I think they're destroying the original building with this. A pity, since Singapore doesn't have a lot of notable and high quality buildings.

[Info][Skyscrapers page][My Singapore page][All photos by MKL, 2008]

Parkview Square, Singapore

One of the most expensive office buildings in the city

Parkview Square.

Parkview Square is an office high-rise building in Singapore. It was completed in 2002 in an Art deco style. It's located in Singapore's central district and stands out with its design and height (144m, 24 floors), because it's surrounded by parks and smaller buildings. I like this skyscraper, but I think it doesn't fit well in Singapore's architecture, it's too different, too unique. It looks massive from close, like a monumental palace, that could stay somewhere in Europe, rather than in Asia. It's definitely one of Singapore's most notable skyscrapers.

I took this photo in January 2005.

Golden crane, the symbol of Parkview Square.

[Singapore][My Skyscrapers page][Info source][All photos by MKL, 2005]

Tuntex Sky Tower hi-def photos

I took these photos on May 9th 2010 in Kaohsiung

Northeastern corner of Tuntex sky Tower.

Northern part of the Tuntex Sky Tower.

Northwestern corner of the Tuntex Sky Tower.

The top of the tower close-up.

View from the southern part of the building, which is facing the Kaohsiung harbor.

Tuntex Sky Tower from above, taken from Google maps (source).

[Kaohsiung][Taiwan][Tuntex main article][Taipei 101][All photos by MKL, 2010]