HPW Cold Storage Logistics Centre & Seafood Market

Qianzheng harbour in Kaohsiung city is the largest and busiest fishing harbour in Taiwan, and the engine of the nation's fishing industry. The harbour encompasses an area of 80 hectares, and accommodates almost all of the largest oceanic fishing vessels in the country.

This project occupies a prime position to the south-west corner of Qianzhen harbour, creating a new industrial plus commercial hybrid building encompassing both the largest and a state-of-the-art cold storage logistics centre and the largest seafood market in Taiwan

This expansive 9 story building proposes a new building typology making the most of the unique opportunities offered by the harbour environment. At its core is a much in-demand modern cold storage & logistics facility - offering 55,000 m² of refrigerated and super-chilled storage spaces serving the seafood and other frozen food logistics market in the region. Each level also offers food processing manufacturing spaces that may be operated in conjunction with the cold storage. Moreover, a 15,000 m² tourism-oriented seafood market and food hall - the largest in this region - occupies the lower two public levels.

Richly textured clay tiles evocative of old brickwork is applied to the entire facade. As such, the building speaks of the legacy and imagery of great brick buildings in harbours across the world – the journeys of fishing vessels reminded as part of a global collective journey.

The design goes beyond the stark industrial aesthetic, highlighting the potential for transparency, views, and plays on atmospheric light, and a warmness of tactility where possible.

On the solid walls and exposed structure, a complex tapestry and a playful dance of light is envisioned. Richly textured clay tiles evocative of old brickwork is applied to the entire facade. As such, the building speaks of the legacy and imagery of great harbour-front buildings across the world – the journeys of fishing vessels reminded as part of a global collective journey. The harbour facing facade – the front of house - organises the non-refrigerated zones on each level (including offices and food processing) and is defined by floor to ceiling windows and aero foil sun-shading panels, enjoying outstanding sea views from the inside.

The architecture also reflects its essential industrial operation logic. The cold storage facility takes the basic form of a regular multi-level box, characterised by super-insulated walls on three sides, with openings allowable only in non-refrigerated zones and programs.

Structural elements - columns and beams - are protruded on the facade, so as to offer a continuous, flat surface on the inside for optimal internal insulation (40cm PU insulation applied internally).

Truck loading terminals and goods drop-off occupies one long side on the ground level. Highly efficient high speed loading lifts and platforms comprise the building's many inner logistics cores.

Six types of tiles with varying grains and textures, varying from red to orange to silver and brown, create a rich and varied expression which changes in response to the dance of light and shade by the sea, echoing the complexity and plentitude of aquatic life in the sea.

Shadow-like geographical patterns - carefully represented by dark toned tiles, are added amongst the regular grid of protruding columns and beams, creating illusions of depth which interacts with real shadows and light.