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The 509-metre Taipei 101 — once the tallest building in the world — has dominated the skyline of the Taiwanese capital since 2004. It hasn't had a lot of competition to contend with and the skyline has remained relatively diminutive in comparison to the mammoth structure. But a new tower rising just a stone's throw away is finally giving Taipei 101 some company in the cloudscape.
The Mitsubishi Estate-led Nan Shan Plaza adds a 274-metre peak to the cityscape that will house office, commercial, and cultural functions. A restaurant and rooftop bar on the top floor will provide guests with tremendous views of the landscape and a dramatic close-up of Taipei 101. Adopting a polyhedron building profile, the low-rise commercial building contains large trees on its stepped terraces. The figure is meant to symbolize the lush landscape of a green hill in the countryside.
The tapering silhouette of the tower draws comparisons to a pair of praying hands, an intentional design choice meant to express thankfulness. Project partners hope the 45-storey building will play a central role in revitalizing the Xinyi Commercial District while also complementing Taipei 101. The development's five underground floors were completed long ago, and cladding application has been steady so far. A vast array of greenery and a spacious public plaza will animate the streetscape upon scheduled completion in December 2016.
Nan Shan Plaza will be the third tallest building in Taiwan, ranking just behind the Tuntex Sky Tower in Kaohsiung. Its impressive height has presented a potential problem for its taller neighbour however. Taipei 101 has become synonymous with New Year's celebrations; the supertall skyscraper launches fireworks from its roof and facade each year. But with the arrival of Nan Shan Plaza, the 60-metre separation between the two towers could prove inadequate to safely permit fireworks. It's not yet clear if the tradition will be entirely cancelled or whether accommodations can be made to ensure the show continues in the future.
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