Taipei luxury residence Tao Zhu Yin Yuan unveiled to public

台北豪華住宅陶朱隱園對外開放

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei’s landmark luxury residence Tao Zhu Yin Yuan (陶朱隱園), also known as Agora Garden, was unveiled to the public for the first time on Tuesday, showcasing an elaborate garden, sweeping 360-degree views, and oversized elevators designed for emergency access.

Media were invited to tour the high-rise residential complex designed by Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut, who is known for futuristic, eco-friendly projects. The building’s interior evokes an urban jungle, with the first-floor ecological garden and lobby alone costing at least NT$500 million (US$16 million) to construct, per UDN.

The project took 15 years from planning to completion and was opened to the public roughly eight years after construction finished in 2018. BES Engineering Spokeswoman Vivian Cheng (程安慈) said every detail was meticulously planned and executed, with construction time and costs estimated at three times those of a typical luxury residential building.

The exterior features a complex, offset-floor design that gives the impression of a rotating structure. Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a forest-like fragrance and a lobby that unfolds into a 360-degree panoramic view.

Cheng said the circular lobby eliminates partitions and draws inspiration from the “four treasures of Chinese study”: brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Freestanding screens and custom furniture define separate areas within the open space.

Among the highlights is a pure copper piano on the first floor, created by a Russian artist. Other furnishings are custom-made by Italian designers, including screens handcrafted from organic barley straw inlaid with eggshells and seashells.

The first-floor ecological garden, one of the building’s most striking features, took four years to complete. It includes a carefully planned landscape featuring a century-old Japanese yew valued at NT$7 million, a nine-meter-high waterfall, and a pond housing eight koi fish. The koi are described as the building’s first residents, including a champion fish valued at more than NT$1 million.

Cheng said the garden departs from traditional landscape design by incorporating a complete ecological cycle, from planting layouts and microclimate regulation to water circulation systems, all refined through repeated testing and adjustments.

Other amenities include an indoor swimming pool with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the waterfall and an elevator large enough to accommodate an ambulance. The rooftop features a round-table banquet room, a helipad, and a spacious terrace offering views of Taipei 101.