Where can I find out more information about the architecture and history of Taipei 101?

Answer 1

Dear Lesley,
Breathtaking pics...just click on blue links below:
http://www.emporis.com/en/il/im/?id=381987
http://www.emporis.com/en/il/pc/?id=100765&aid=8&sro=1
http://www.emporis.com/en/il/pc/?id=100765&aid=8&sro=10
http://www.emporis.com/en/il/pc/?id=100765&aid=8&sro=19

Official name Taipei 101
Alternative names *
Emporis Building Number 100765

Location: "8" Sung-Chih Road
District :.... Xinyi [Hsinyi]
City :..........Taipei
Country :...Taiwan

Technical Data
Height (tip) ......527 m
Height (struct.) 509 m (1,671 ft)
Construction start 2001
Construction end 2004
by: KTRT Joint Venture
Building in General

Architectural style & Design:
C.Y. Lee and Partners INC.
Status:............ completed


News: "Spiderman" Climbs World's Tallest Building
Taipei: French Spiderman, Alain Robert, climbs to the tip of the world's tallest building, Taipei 101, in December 25, 2004. It is part of the week-long celebration for the official opening of the tower in December 31, 2004. He spent approximately four hours to reach the tip at 509m. A safety rope was used as a safety precaustion due to the windy and rainy weather. He also climbed more than 70 skyscrapers around the world.
Click on Taipei 101 link below for more information.
http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/nc/ne/?id=101248

Taipei: On October 9, the uppermost and final spire segment was raised into place on Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan. At 509.2 meters, the 101-storey tower now officially holds the world's tallest building title previously held by Petronas Tower 1 and Petronas Tower 2. The Sears Tower still holds the title of the world's tallest building to the tip of the antenna at 527 meters. Taipei 101 now also holds the highest roof (449 m) and highest occupied floor (439 m) titles.

Facts
- Taipei 101 is the world's tallest building, surpassing the height of the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur in late August 2003.
- Taipei 101 holds the world record in three of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's height categories: tallest to the structural top, tallest to the roof, and highest occupied floor.
- The outdoor observation deck is the highest in the world. It is expected to be surpassed by the outdoor deck in the Shanghai World Financial Center.
- This was the first world's tallest building completed in the 21st century. The next will most likely be Burj Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
- The 89th floor holds an indoor observation area, and an outdoor observation deck is located on the 91st floor.
- Taipei 101 is the first and currently only building in the world to break the half-kilometer mark in height.
- The highest section of the spire was installed on 9 October 2003. At the official ceremony on 17 October, Taipei's mayor Ma Ying-Jeou fastened a golden bolt to signify the official topping-out.
- Before the spire was installed there was a separate topping-out ceremony on July 1st, 2003 for completion to the roof level. The president of Taiwan and the mayor of Taipei participated in the event.
- An 800-ton tuned mass damper helps stabilize the tower in high winds and earthquakes. This damper is an enormous ball of welded steel plates hanging inside the top of the building, and is visible from the restaurant and bar which encircles the space around the ball.
- The design is inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, with a shape resembling a pagoda. The sectioned tower is also inspired by the bamboo plant, which is a model of strength, resilience, and elegance.
- The tower's design specifications are based on the number "8", a lucky number in traditional Chinese culture; it features 8 upward-flaring sections, and is supported by 8 supercolumns. The Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai also employs this numerology in its design. Also four circular structures at the base of each of the sides represent "coins" i.e. rich profits in Chinese Tradition.
- Most aspects of the design, layout and planning were reviewed and approved by a Feng Shui master.
- The elevators are the fastest in the world, rising at 1008 meters per minute (60.48 km/hour) and descending at 610 m/min (36.6 km/hour). The top speeds are 34 percent faster than the previous world's fastest elevators in Yokohama Landmark Tower.
- This is one of the few buildings in the world equipped with double-deck elevators.
- Each elevator is designed with an aerodynamic body, pressurization and emergency braking systems, and the world's first triple-stage anti-overshooting system. The cost for each elevator is over $US 2 million.
- Exterior construction elevators and the construction elevator shaft were fully disassembled in late February of 2004.
- The Taiwan Stock Exchange rents 7 floors in the building.
- Inside the base of the tower is the large Taipei 101 Mall, which opened before the tower on November 13th, 2003.

Answer 2

I was in Taipei last August and visited Taipei 101, currently the tallest building in the world. Inspired by bamboo shoots climbing into the sky, it's a massive building that towers over Taipei. Check below for some online sites that will give you more information.

The best place to learn more about Taipei 101 however, is on the observation deck on the 89th floor. It's got displays on history, architecture, social and cultural relevance, all framed in a stunning view of Taipei. To get there, just take the worlds fastest elevator from the building lobby.

Answer 3

I was just there last year! Wikipedia does indeed have great coverage on Taipei 101. Here are some snippets:

Taipei 101 is a 101-floor landmark skyscraper located in Taipei, Taiwan. Designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners and constructed by KTRT Joint Venture, it is currently the tallest building in the world by three of the four standards designated by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Its original name was Taipei Financial Centre, based on its official Chinese name: the Taipei International Financial Center.

The exterior of the building is fraught with symbolism of financial success. The distinctive sections that create the impression of a bamboo stalk in the minds of many people are actually representative of gold ingots, used in ancient China as currency by royalty. There are 8 of them, each with 8 floors, with the number 8 sounding like "earn fortune" in Chinese culture and the language. There are also 4 circles on each side of the building near the base, to represent coins. Most aspects of the design, layout and planning were reviewed and approved by a Feng Shui master.

Answer 4

Wikipedia is always a good place to start, look up "Taipei, Taiwan" for a general overview, history of the country and city, and links.

You can also google or look up on Amazon.com "National Palace Museum," which is one of Taiwan's most famous art museums (equivalent to the National Gallery in Washington DC). This building, along with the Sun Yat Sen Memorial and the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial, are famous buildings in Taipei.

Finally, look up Buddhism and Chinese temples, which also give examples of Chinese architecture. For instance, the Lung Shan Temple in Taipei is a famous Buddhist Temple.

Answer 5

Freedom Tower

Answer 6

HI,
You can check it out at Skyscraper:
http://www.skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=18
And Here:
http://www.tfc101.com.tw/