Taipei tries its best at erecting buildings that have some semblance of style, even if that style is generating a neo-Gothic Greek Revivalist Bali retreat.  But bless ’em, the local residents get to work modifying, adapting and extending their properties with scant regard for the outward appearance of a building.  It’s something I have written about before (Open-Source Architecture), but not seen built with that thought in mind at the outset.

I was therefore rather pleased to be walking along Minsheng E Rd. yesterday, and happen across a housing development that at least seems to respect peoples’ wishes to augment their original purchase.  In a manner not too far removed from the iconic Barbican in London, geometric flourishes break up the surfaces of the structure, allowing some degree of freedom in treatment of windows, air-conditioning and sideways extensions.  It’s modern, certainly Asian, and I rather like it.

From an alternative angle.

Eric from ADC marvels at the trees, individually marked with species markers.