U-MKT

Regarding the preservation of U-Market, our hope is to arrive at an understanding of its existence through the building design and its physical condition.

U-Market, which is built in 1935, was a design based on Form follows Function. The horse shoe plan provides a loggia space typical to the one adjacent to public plaza. The 3 meters tall atrium void and stacked windows provide the required light and ventilation for the market. Designed to accommodate two stalls and comfortable walking space, also taking consideration of hygiene into sectional design, the market is strikingly different from a traditional market that is usually more permeable.

The new design calls for ephemeralness, reflecting both the temporal timeline (10 years rental period) and inconsistent user situation (co-sharing office space). It also needs to respond to the mixing of public and private space, as well as addressing the issue of implementing new building equipment without destroying or modify the existing building condition.

The design is divided into 2 parts: the co sharing office space within the original building and the new public bathroom.

In terms of massing, the new design preserved the half circle form from the first proposal, but retained an open volume in between the old and new massing. This covered, semi-outdoor walkway will serve as a mediating space; provide contrast between the two massing. Interestingly, the new massing which function as the public bathroom will last longer when compared to the old massing that is a only temporally serving as office space. So we chose cast in place concrete as the primary material, which mimic the color of granolithic exterior of the old building. The use of cast in place concrete will also express the language of half circular massing better.

An eclipse volume is cut away from the half circular massing, where a steel frame spiral staircase is inserted, hanging on the concrete wall that is casted with thin strips of woods.

The old building’s program includes co-share office, office for Jut Foundation, math kitchen, auditorium, gallery, meeting room and café.

We chose plywood made of pine, which is typically used as the fixture backing, to build a 1.2meter thick wall. The thick wall itself houses all necessary mechanical equipment, storage, vertical circulation, projecting equipment. The thick wall is covered with translucent polycarbonate board, like the outdoor market vendors, these translucent boards are glued directly onto the wood fame. The translu- cency defines a public and private partition; offer a thickness that is both transparent and contextual. Depending on the use, this thickness is both partition and space. It defines the atrium, trans- forming what used to be the void of the building into solid, reinforcing the original architectural design. Meanwhile, this thick wall also becomes a circular exhibition hallway, mediating between the old and the new in an attempt to provoke curiosity. Through this dialogue, it provides a platform for one to re-understand the importance and duty of this historical building at the current time.

Photos Copyright:© Te-Fan Wang 汪德範