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Architecture | Commercial

Far Eastern Department Store Xinyi


KRIS YAO | ARTECH



Short description

Located in the southeast corner of Taipei’s premium commercial district area, Far Eastern Department Store Xinyi is well connected to the adjacent corporate headquarters and shopping districts. It is designed to be in dialogue with the surrounding urban spaces and the street life of the city.

Starting from the open plaza, three express escalators directly connect the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th floors to facilitate the customer flow. Fashion boutiques are located on the lower levels, while the 4th floor is a dining floor with a 100-meter long glass tube space as the main spatial axis, containing themed restaurants and outdoor terraces. The cinema is from the 10th floor up to the 13th floor, while the rooftop restaurant on the 14th floor offers a unique view of the city.

The façade of the department store uses a series of silver tones to symbolize technology and modernity. The stacking masses reflect the different usages of the interior space. The 4.5m high clear glass curtain wall on the ground floor creates continuity and transparency to the street. The dark recessed glass in between the masses strengthens the light-and shadow effect and increases the sense of dynamism on the elevations. Large viewing windows on the higher floors around the escalators and the cinema lobby allow customers to locate themselves in the urban context, and to enjoy the city's skyline. The public plaza and outdoor terraces around the site give a welcome gesture to the city, and make it a popular place for people to meet and relax.

Entry details
LocationTaipei, Taiwan
Lead designerKris Yao
Photography credits©Jeffrey Cheng, ©Kris Provoost, ©KRIS YAO | ARTECH, ©Jack Ou, ©Chris Stowers
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