The Inverted Truss

To renew a historical building in Taipei, B+P Architects designed a free-standing structure that is detached with the existing wall and introduces the idea of “structure as furniture”.

While facing the renovation of a historical building, B+P Architects’ first intention was to “re-specify” the initial gestures of the space in order to remain the condition for the traces of time could be experienced. Therefore, carefully but distinctive inserting an element to shape new spaces become the key issue of this project.

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B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, Taipei, Taiwan, 2016

B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, Taipei, Taiwan, 2016

B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, Taipei, Taiwan, 2016

B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, Taipei, Taiwan, 2016

B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, Taipei, Taiwan, 2016

B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, Taipei, Taiwan, 2016

B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, Taipei, Taiwan, 2016

B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, Taipei, Taiwan, 2016

B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, Taipei, Taiwan, 2016

The main timber truss for retail shop at the front room introduces the idea of “structure as furniture”, a free-standing individual component that is detached with the existing wall. The idea of moderate intervention with minimal attaches and less anchoring that will undermine the existing building is taking place in this project. The timber truss is a structure that supports the display shelf and integrates the wiring of lighting and air-conditioning units. Appearing as an inverted frame, the truss is a modest response of a new insertion to an old building.

The timber used for the truss is made from Japanese cypress that is also used to make gain utensils at the time as well. Besides the gentle explicit response of the form, the implicit connection of materials and textures is also architects’ design thinking towards a historic building.

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B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, Taipei, Taiwan, 2016

B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, axonometric view

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B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, exploded axonometic view

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B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, axonometric view

B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, ground floor

B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, first floor

B+P Architects, The Inverted Truss, second floor

The Inverted Truss, Taipei, Taiwan
Program: shop renovation
Architect: B+P Architects – Chia-Hao Tsai, Tze-Chun Wei
Design Team: Tzu-Li Lin, Chien-Tung Chen
Area: 735 sqm
Completion: 2016

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