TAIPEI SKYLINE

Taiwan, Taipei Skyline (HA 28557) by HA Studio

Taipei is home to many iconic landmarks which makes it the perfect shot for the latest Skyline model in HA Studio.

What landmarks are included in this model?

From the left to right, we have Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, Cheng-En Gate (Taipei City Wall-North Gate), Lohas Park, The Grand Hotel, Cathay Landmark Tower, Taipei 101, and finally Tao Zhu Yin Yuan Tower.

What was the main challenge for this model?

The left-hand part of the cityscape employs forced perspective to feed an otherwise expensive part of Taipei on a traditional side. You have to use your imagination that you are walking on the beauty of the massive Memorial Hall. The main building of the Grand Hotel is one of the world's tallest Chinese classical buildings. It also contributed importantly to Chinese classical architecture.

Taipei 101 is also scaled-down and is standing in the middle of Cathay Landmark Tower and Tao Zhu Yin Yuan Tower. We can feel the bustle and dynamism of the city through the Business Centre of 101 and Cathay, and residential area. Particularly, Tao Zhu Yin Yuan, Carbon-absorbing green tower connects with green architecture concept design.

How did you achieve a sense of unity on this model?

In Taipei, the 101 Tower is at the heart of the city and I chose to do the same here. With my design, it has two sides. One side is the classical landmarks and the other side is modern landmarks for which would be represented what Taipei is. Three of the classical and three of modernize. All are lined up on a horizontal line to show a very nice fully 3 dimensional and perspective in the Taipei skyline.

Does the model mirror any of the real-life buildings?

Actually, the Taipei 101 also is built by using the same technique as the real one. Its design concept was incorporated Chinese Pagoda form and bamboo flowers.

What is your favorite part of this model?

My favorite part of the model is actually the power. Its apparent simplicity is the power that is the power of architecture, architecture skyline. I'm very proud of the amount of data I could reach without adding a single new element to the buildings in this skyline. That is the one thing I always try to achieve in HA Studio to create something very recognizable in this small scale entirely with the existing part at this time moment as well as in the near future.

Taipei

Taipei, Taiwan’s largest city, known as the cultural kaleidoscope of Taiwan’s capital city. It is home to many iconic landmarks from the tallest buildings to the biggest collection of Chinese art, Taipei would invite you into a world of fascinating contrasts - a mix of the modern and traditional, with a generous dash of energy and friendly smiles to make this one of your most memorable trips to Asia.

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

This memorial hall was built in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, the first president of the Republic of China. It is located in Zhong Zheng District, Taipei, Taiwan. Designed by C.C. Yang, who was also the architect for The Grand Hotel, the memorial hall is white with a blue roof, representing the dominant colors in the ROC flag; while the emblem of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) adorns the vaulted ceiling. There are two sets of white stairs, each with 89 steps to represent Chiang’s age at the time of his death, lead to the main entrance.

LOHAS Park

Just on the edge of Taipei City near Xizhi district, LOHAS Park is a narrow path that runs alongside Neigou River. Many locals and tourists flock to the area in early Spring to witness the spectacular cherry blossoms.

Cheng-En Gate

Located at the intersection of Zhongxiao West Road, Yanping North Road, Zhonghua Road, Yanping South Road, and Bo’ai Road in Zhongzheng District. There are five historic city gates in Taipei: the East Gate (Jingfu Gate), West Gate (Baocheng Gate), South Gate (Lizheng Gate), Lesser South Gate (Chongxi Gate) and North Gate (Cheng’en Gate). They were built by Liu Ming-Chuan during the reign of Emperor Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty in 1884.

The Grand Hotel

The main building of the hotel was completed in 1973. It is one of the world’s tallest Chinese classical buildings at 285 ft (87m) high with a 14-story palatial building towering on the hillside of Yuan shan and surrounded by Keelung River in the front, Mt. Yang-ming shan in the back, Songshan to the east and Tamsui to the west. With its signature red columns and golden roof, the hotel’s magnificent exterior presents a sumptuously classic ambiance that reflects the beauty of traditional Chinese arts.

The beauty of the Grand Hotel comes from its stately Chinese-style structures and splendid classic setting; the mystique of the hotel lies in its legendary, historic significance and the rumor about a secret underground passageway; one can chalk the hotel’s otherworldly serenity to its great location, adjacent to a scenic belt away from the urban bustle.

Cathay Landmark Tower

The Cathay Landmark is a skyscraper located in Xinyi Special District, Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is the eighth tallest building in Taiwan and the fourth tallest in Xinyi Special District. The height of the building is 696 ft (212 m), the floor area is 152,488.6 m2, and it comprises 46 floors above ground as well as 6 basement levels. The building was designed by Kris Yao.

Taipei 101

Taipei 101 is an engineering marvel and the first building of its kind in the world. Spanning 101 stories above the ground at a height of 1,671 ft (509.2 m), designed by C.Y. Lee and C.P. Wang as a symbol of technology’s evolution fused with Asian tradition. The building features many pan-Chinese and Asian elements mixed with a postmodern style and is designed to withstand typhoons and earthquakes common in Taiwan.

Tao Zhu Yin Yuan Tower

Tao Zhu Yin Yuan, a luxurious residential tower, known as Agora Garden Tower, designed by Vincent Callebaut. Located in the Xinyi District, the business district of Taipei, Taiwan. The height of the building is 285.4 ft (87 m), the floor area is 42.335.34 m². Its design is comprised of a large cylindrical central core, flanked on opposite ends by two nearly rectangular living spaces (each of these will make up 40 apartments). Each floor rotates 4.5 degrees relative to the prior floor for a total rotation of 90 degrees through 21 floors.

H.A Studio (H.A 創作室), (as known as V.Boi Design Studio) is a small studio where specializes in the design and development of architectural models and as well as the re-design of famous icon landmark buildings, houses, and skylines in the world with small scales by Lego bricks. I always love architecture and Lego. As a designer, I'd like to bring whole historical and cultural knowledge in architecture, and life into the Lego world for all ages in order to achieve the term "Play & Learn."