Taisugar Circular Village

Taisugar Circular Village (TCV) is the first residential project in Taiwan fully integrated to the circular economy ideology. TCV is comprised with three housing blocks, a Circular Demo House (C-House), and an Eco-House (E-House); it accommodates 351 rental units, an urban farm coupled with an eco-pond, centrally located in the courtyard.

TCV is designed in response to the call for collective living requirements for contemporary living while re-enforcing an intimate sense of community. For the residents, the residential units serve as their rooms, the E-House functions as the kitchen, and the C-House plays the role of a garden. Designing a building for circularity relies heavily on flexibility and adaptability. TCV’s circular design focuses on modularization and service-orientated appliance supply, all integrated within building passport for better optimization. Modularization is evident in the design of three housing blocks with a repetitive balcony façade system. All modules were prefabricated during construction to minimize on-site material wastage e: the entire external façade was made using pre-casted modularized panels; components are connected with nuts and bolts for future ease of disassembly. The prefabricated balcony façade system was installed similarly to a curtain wall system. Modular prefabricated hollowed core slabs were used as the floor system spanning across the main beams. This significantly reduces the use of smaller beams compared to decking systems. Modularization allows for future reuse and repurposes, extending materials’ life cycles and position within the value chain. Every material used in TCV is assigned a unique id in the material passport to its data in check; doing so is to ensure building components’ life cycle continues post-demolition. TCV is designed in 6 layers: foundation, structure, façade, system, partition, and appliances. This allows for isolated repairs without compromising other components. TCV’s energy use in 2022 is approximately 50% less than predicted due to its renewable energy systems, details of which will be provided in the sustainability section. TCV brings changes to the conventional practice of manufacturing specific appliances for each building by offering a service-based approach. Manufacturers retain ownership of products, enabling a continuous product life cycle after dissembling. To pioneer this change in the consumer-oriented society involves working door to door with furniture, elevators, kitchen all the way to the electronic locks suppliers to tailor a sustainable service-based supply contract. Owing to the experimental nature of the procurement model, bank contracts and user agreements are tailored from scratch to ensure the legal requirement while maintaining the course of circular design principles. After construction, TCV served as a company dormitory for 24 months. Following the lease conclusion, it transitions to individual tenants while maintaining low occupancy for potential bulk leasing. Embracing a circular economy, TCV establishes a sustainable framework that cultivates a sense of community. It transforms residents into integral parts of a shared local ecosystem, fostering a reconnection between people and nature and consumption with production. This holistic approach positions TCV as an exemplary model in sustainable architecture.