MVRDV Unveils ‘The Island,’ A Gaudí Inspired Vertical Garden

Arpitha SNovember 27, 20252 Mins read2.2k

MVRDV’s ‘The Island’, A Sculpted Vertical Garden

The Island—21-story residential tower in Taiwan

‘The Island’ is an ambitious 21-story residential tower in Taiwan, designed by the well-renowned architecture studio MVRDV. The firm has received construction permission for the tower, designed not only to bring greenery and nature within the urban fabric but also to create a community space, increasing liveability. The design showcases an organic expression with characteristic balconies and planters defined by soft curves and finished with mosaic ceramic tiling, inspired by the works of the master architect Antoni Gaudí.

Situated at the border between Taichung’s North and Beitun Districts, amidst the city’s dense commercial fabric, the building not only softens the urban fabric but also serves as a gateway between urban energy and nature. As Beitun’s rapid urbanization intensifies, the tower emerges as a thoughtful response to Taichung’s liveability regulations, which encourage generous outdoor spaces and lush greenery. The Island is an architectural landmark within the concrete fabric, a vertical garden affecting the microclimate for the residence and the context.

The 21-story tower is envisioned as a vertical neighborhood, offering 76 apartments elevated above lively commercial floors and lively communal and shared spaces. Residents can gather in communal dining rooms or cozy lounges or step onto balconies carved into the façade, each forming a three-story pocket of openness. Designed with middle-class living in mind, the project prioritizes community at its core, weaving social life into the architecture itself. At the top, a lush rooftop garden wraps around a sculpted green crown, creating a nature-filled retreat for residents.

Sustainability and ‘The Island’

Sustainability anchors the tower’s identity from the ground up, beginning with the adaptive reuse of materials salvaged from the former on-site structure, an approach that not only minimizes construction waste but subtly embeds the site’s memory into its new form.

A lattice of over 100 private green balconies and 38 planted façade modules weaves vegetation across the tower’s surface, cultivating biodiversity and tempering the local climate. In a district increasingly dominated by dense concrete volumes, the tower positions itself as a vertical garden, a living structure that offers both ecological function and urban respite.

The façade is a fluid and striking composition of soft, organic curves wrapped in a shimmering mosaic skin inspired by Antoni Gaudí’s works. Beyond its artistry, this intricate cladding technique also ensures a durable, easy-to-maintain exterior.