The Taipei Weather Station Stèisean Sìde by IMO Architecture and JC Cheng Associates

The Taipei Weather Station Stèisean Sìde by IMO Architecture and JC Cheng Associates is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Duais Òir A' Design Award in Dealbhadh Ailtireachd, Togalaichean agus Structaran Competition Category.

ÒrAiltireachd· 2026

The Taipei Weather Station Stèisean Sìde

by IMO Architecture and JC Cheng Associates

Client: IMO Architecture + Design

Duais Òir A' Design Award Winner in Ailtireachd Category

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The Design

About The Taipei Weather Station Stèisean Sìde

'S e goireas eòlas-sìde a chaidh a thogail ann an New Taipei City, Taiwan, a th' ann an Stèisean Sìde Taipei. Tha trì togalaichean a' gabhail a-steach dà roinn de bhiùro na sìde agus seòmar ioma-ghnìomhach, ceangailte ri chèile le mullach trì-thaobhach tonnach. Tha cruadhtan daingnichte a' toirt seasmhachd an aghaidh thìofonan agus chrithean-talmhainn, agus tha itean stàilinn Corten agus faranan domhainn a' mhullaich a' toirt sgàile, solas agus seallaidhean. Gluaisidh na h-itean leis a' ghaoith agus tillidh iad chun an t-suidheachaidh thùsail aca tro shiostam crochaidh chàbaill. Tha an t-àite a-muigh eadar na togalaichean a' cumail ionnsramaidean tomhais na sìde.

The Recognition

About the Duais Òir A' Design Award

Tha The Taipei Weather Station Stèisean Sìde air Duais Òir A' Design Award a bhuannachadh, aithneachadh anabarrach urramach a bheirear do dhealbhaidhean den chiad ìre, mìorbhaileach agus sònraichte. Tha buannaichean Òir nan cruthachaidhean anabarrach ùr-ghnàthach, làn lèirsinn agus drùidhteach a nochdas gèinidh, gliocas agus comas an luchd-dealbhaidh. Thathar an dùil gum bi The Taipei Weather Station Stèisean Sìde na innleachd a gheibh moladh mòr, a stèidhicheas gluasadan agus mòr-chuimhneachain a bheir luach nach fhacas riamh roimhe. Tha an dealbhadh seo a bhuannaich Duais Òir A' Design Award na phròiseact sònraichte, urramach a bhrosnaicheas crìochan ealain, saidheans, dealbhaidh agus teicneolais gu mòr. Bidh The Taipei Weather Station Stèisean Sìde a' cruthachadh faireachdainnean làidir miann, a' dùsgadh dealas, a' brosnachadh cruthachalachd agus a' glacadh sinn.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The Taipei Weather Station is a manifestation of the environment it inhabits and seeks to observe, forming a visible dialogue with nature. Wind activates movable fins; rain threads their Corten surfaces, expressing time and weather. Sunlight filters through, casting shifting shadows on wind-shaped forms. The design reflects a belief that architecture can foster creativity, inspiration, mental health, and well-being.
Dimensions & Packaging: Client Name: New Taipei City Government
Size: 3,283 square meters.
Project Budget: 4,200,000.00 USD
Tags: Environmental integration, Experiential Architecture, Corten Steel, Moving Architecture
Production Technology: The design features 3 buildings housing two weather bureau departments and a multifunctional room, all connected by a 3D undulating roof blending seamlessly with the natural environment. Inspired by synoptic weather charts, the form withstands Taiwan's high precipitation, humidity, strong typhoons, and earthquakes. Reinforced concrete ensures resilience, while Corten fins and deep roof overhangs provide shade from the subtropical sun and allow light and views. These fins, with a novel cable suspension system, return to 0 degrees after wind gusts. The outdoor space between the buildings is dedicated to weather measurement instrument data collection.
Design Challenge: This project faced tight budget constraints and complex scientific requirements. The wind tunnel’s size, vibration, and noise posed challenges near sensitive instruments. Weather devices required both isolation and accessibility with strict adjacent structure height limitations. The building also had to withstand earthquakes, typhoons, and power outages. The low sprawling plan of the design with the wind tunnel located below grade is tuned to address each of these, while fostering scientists’ well-being in day-to-day operation.
Research: This research explored how to design a building that meets laboratory standards, integrating meteorological instruments and a wind tunnel. Objectives included achieving international‑level weather measurements and reducing vibration and noise by placing the tunnel underground. The tunnel tested facade resilience against typhoons, inspiring wind‑activated fins on a novel cable system that make airflow visible. Digital analysis shaped a 3D roof to harvest rainwater for irrigation. Results improved performance, sustainability, and user experience, with impacts on design practice, society, and community value.
Inspiration: As technology reshapes the world, monotonous jobs are giving way to dynamic roles valuing leadership, creativity, and communication. The design imagines spaces beyond data points and utility, reconnecting observers with the natural environment they study to harness nature's positive effects on productivity, mood, memory, and stress relief. Material, form, and planning emphasize connections with the environment, encouraging engagement, while common spaces foster community among scientists.
Project Duration: The Taipei Weather Station project was initiated in April 2014 as a competition entry. The design phase took place between 2014 and 2019, developed collaboratively in Taiwan and Spain. Construction began in 2019 and was completed in 2023 in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Operation Flow: This design redefines what a weather station can be by reconnecting the observer with natural processes. Unlike traditional methods that reduce weather to mere data points, it makes weather phenomena also experienceable for scientists. Wind-reactive fins reflect invisible air currents, while sustainable Corten material captures the passage of time and precipitation. The facade visualizes the sun and nature's movement, creating dynamic murals of light and shadow. This approach balances scientific activities with the experience of nature, fostering mental health and well-being.
Team Members: Random Order: Mario Hidalgo, Jose María Crespo, Ina Dai, Urdaneta Zeberio, Jeff Lu, Lain Satrustegui, Sanjain Chen, Atelier Boronski, Eurie Huang, Jon Saenz del Castillo, Michael Blaeser, Lynn Zheng, Eleni Karypidou, Mu Liu, Laura Morales, Ignacio Juarez, Weiching Chen, Daniel Cheng, Huang,Yi-Chan, Liao,Wei-Chen, Dai,Gan-Yun, Lin,Ching-Tang, Hsiao,Chih-Wen, Chou,Mei-Huei
Image Credits: IMO Architecture + Design