The Taipei Weather Station Toby Fandrefesana Toetrandro by IMO Architecture and JC Cheng Associates

The Taipei Weather Station Toby Fandrefesana Toetrandro by IMO Architecture and JC Cheng Associates is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Volamena in Famolavolana Maritrano, Trano ary Rafitra Competition Category.

VolamenaMaritrano· 2026

The Taipei Weather Station Toby Fandrefesana Toetrandro

by IMO Architecture and JC Cheng Associates

Client: IMO Architecture + Design

A' Design Award Volamena Winner in Maritrano Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #172221

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About The Taipei Weather Station Toby Fandrefesana Toetrandro

Ny Toby Fandrefesana Toetrandron'i Taipei dia trano fandinihana ny toetrandro naorina tao New Taipei City, Taiwan. Trano telo no ahitana departemanta roa an'ny biraon'ny toetrandro sy efitrano maro asa, ampiraisin'ny tafo telo refy miolakolaka. Ny simenitra mitam-by dia manome fahatanjahana manoloana ny rivo-doza sy ny horohorontany, raha ny lelan'ny vy Corten sy ny sisin-tafo lalina kosa dia manome alokaloka, hazavana ary fahitana ny manodidina. Mihetsika miaraka amin'ny rivotra ireo lelam-by ireo ary miverina amin'ny toerany voalohany amin'ny alalan'ny rafitra tariby mihantona. Ny toerana ivelany eo anelanelan'ireo trano no misy ny fitaovana fandrefesana ny toetrandro.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Volamena

Nandresy ny A' Design Award Volamena ny famolavolana The Taipei Weather Station Toby Fandrefesana Toetrandro, fankasitrahana malaza indrindra tsy refesi-mandidy omena ny famolavolana kilasy voalohany, mahagaga ary miavaka. Ny mpandresy Volamena dia famoronana vaovao indrindra, mahay mijery lavitra ary mamirapiratra mahafinaritra izay maneho ny fahamoramoran-tsaina, ny fahendrena ary ny fahaizan'ny mpamolavola azy. Andrasana ho fikarohana mahazo ankasitrahana indrindra, mitarika ny fironana ary tsangambato ny famolavolana The Taipei Weather Station Toby Fandrefesana Toetrandro izay mamatsy sanda tsy mbola nisy toy izany. Ity famolavolana nandresy ny A' Design Award Volamena ity dia tetikasa mahavariana sy hajaina izay mahasoa be ary mampandroso ny sisintanin'ny zavakanto, ny siansa, ny famolavolana ary ny teknolojia. Ny famolavolana The Taipei Weather Station Toby Fandrefesana Toetrandro dia mamorona fihetseham-po mafy momba ny faniriana, mamelona ny ahiahy, mamporisika ny fahaiza-mamorona ary mahasarika antsika.

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