Taipei, Taiwan
6,000 SF

The new Butterfly Library in Taipei is a living symbol of sustainability, designed to serve the community, tenants in two adjacent residential towers, and the Taiwan Butterfly Association. The new library is sited at the transition of a steep slope facing a temple and will be a gateway to the green trail network of Jian Nan Mountain.

This 6,000 square-foot four-story structure is composed of an elongated glass box that appears to float above the ground floor. Sustainable design features include a double skin façade composed of an artfully etched high performance glass wall that maximizes natural daylight and a secondary louver system to provide shade, moderating the subtropical temperatures and minimizing energy use from the grid. The project will also promote the use of renewable energy through photovoltaics, wind turbines and geo-thermal sources.