Sensuous Garden / ACPV ARCHITECTS

Architects: ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel
Area: 33,300 m²
Year: 2026
Photography: YuChen Chao Photography
Lead Architects: Antonio Citterio, Patricia Viel
Architects Team: Pasquale Dacchille, Lorenzo Polli, Renata Balzano, Lucrezia Castagnoli, Yuxi Chen, Andrea De Cet, Fabio Fassina, Claudio Gravina, Federico Luccarini, Slavko Milanovic, Alina Narbyekova, Riccardo Vergari, Stefano Zeigner
Partners in Charge: Claudio Raviolo, Chung-Yi Yang
Design Architect: ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel
Local Architect: CHY Architects & Planners
Interior Design: ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel (Residential Shared Spaces, Excluding Hotel Interiors)
Contractor: Continental Engineering Corporation
Lighting Design: Metis Lighting
Materials: Reflective Glass, Carrara Marble, Gray Stone, Metal, Fabrics
Client: Continental Development Corporation
City: Taipei
Country: Taiwan

Sensuous Garden, designed by ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, is a 23-story mixed-use tower in Taipei’s Songshan District, combining a hotel with 114 residential units. Rising 90 meters and encompassing approximately 33,300 square meters, the development integrates Italian architectural influences with references to Taiwanese tea culture. Its reflective glass facade features horizontal white lines inspired by the cultivated landscapes of tea plantations, while the residential shared interiors draw on the colors and delicate characteristics of Oriental Beauty tea. Large balconies extending across the building’s width establish visual connections with the surrounding city, complemented by landscaped outdoor areas at intermediate and rooftop levels. The residential amenities include a five-meter-high entrance lobby, bar, library lounge, gym, and yoga room. Natural materials such as Carrara marble and warm gray stone are combined with metal details, soft fabrics, and furniture designed by Antonio Citterio. Developed for Continental Development Corporation, the project brings together hospitality and residential functions within a unified architectural composition. Located near Taipei’s major commercial and cultural destinations, Sensuous Garden continues ACPV ARCHITECTS’ work in Taiwan, emphasizing spatial openness, material consistency, and the integration of shared amenities into contemporary high-rise living.

Sensuous Garden draws on the architectural culture of Milan during the 1960s and 1970s, translating principles of geometric simplicity, balanced proportions, and material refinement into a contemporary development in Taipei. Designed by ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, the project references the work of Italian design figures such as Vico Magistretti, establishing a relationship between modernist architectural traditions and the requirements of a mixed-use urban tower. The design approach extends across the building’s architecture and residential interiors, emphasizing consistency between exterior composition, spatial organization, and material selection.

Located at the intersection of Nanjing East Road and Guangfu North Road, the development occupies a prominent position within Taipei’s financial district. The surrounding Songshan neighborhood is characterized by major commercial enterprises and ongoing urban development, alongside cultural and recreational destinations. Nearby landmarks include Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Taipei Dome, Taipei Arena, National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and Taipei Songshan Airport. This concentration of commercial, cultural, and transportation facilities establishes the building within an active metropolitan setting.

The tower’s architectural composition is defined by simple volumes, extensive glazing, and a pronounced horizontal rhythm. Its reflective exterior responds visually to the surrounding urban environment, while the white horizontal bands introduce a consistent pattern across the facade. Generous balconies extend across the building’s width, creating connections between residential interiors and the exterior. These architectural elements contribute to an impression of openness while maintaining a unified appearance across the tower.

“The building’s architecture and interiors reinforce each other to create spaces that celebrate refined living,” says architect Antonio Citterio, Chairman and Co-founder of ACPV ARCHITECTS.

The mixed-use program incorporates hotel accommodation alongside a residential component consisting of 114 units and dedicated communal facilities. ACPV ARCHITECTS was responsible for the overall architecture and the interior design of the residential shared spaces, including two show apartments. The arrangement brings together different functions within a single development while accommodating the requirements of residents and guests.

Landscape elements are incorporated at different levels of the building. A rooftop sky garden and an additional outdoor area at mid-height introduce elevated green spaces, providing opportunities for relaxation and views across Taipei. These landscaped areas extend the residential environment beyond enclosed interiors and offer alternative settings for outdoor activities within the high-rise structure.

“We designed a sky garden on top of the building and an outdoor area at mid-height. These open, green spaces will offer new opportunities to take a walk in nature while enjoying panoramic views of the city,” adds architect Patricia Viel, Co-founder of ACPV ARCHITECTS.

The ground-floor entrance lobby establishes the principal arrival space for the residential component. Measuring five meters in height, the lobby features generous proportions and provides access to an adjoining bar. A large window overlooks a private garden and can be opened to extend the bar’s seating area outdoors. This arrangement introduces a direct connection between the interior communal spaces and the landscaped setting, creating opportunities for residents and guests to use both areas together.

Additional residential amenities include a library lounge, gym, and yoga room. The library provides a setting for reading and informal gatherings, while the fitness and wellness facilities accommodate other everyday activities. Together, these spaces form a shared program intended to respond to different residential needs, with attention to spatial flexibility and accessibility.

The design of the communal interiors emphasizes the relationship between material texture, color, furniture, and lighting. The reception counter is made from Italian Carrara marble, establishing a prominent element within the entrance lobby. Warm gray stone covers the surrounding walls, while the flooring incorporates both materials to maintain visual continuity. Custom-designed handrails and metal accents introduce contrasting surfaces that complement the stone finishes.

Soft fabrics and furniture selections provide a further layer of material contrast. The furnishings include pieces designed by Antonio Citterio, connecting the interior architecture with the firm’s broader approach to furniture and product design. Spatial proportions and lighting solutions were developed as integral parts of the interior composition, contributing to the character of the residential shared areas.

“We paid particular attention to the details when designing the building’s interiors. From the furniture selection – featuring designs by Antonio Citterio – to the spatial proportions and the lighting solutions, each design choice was motivated by the desire to create spaces where people feel at home – even for temporary guests,” says Chung-Yi Yang, ACPV ARCHITECTS’ partner-in-charge for the shared spaces of Sensuous Garden’s residential portion.

The two show apartments extend this approach to the domestic scale, demonstrating the architects’ attention to interior organization, furnishings, and spatial proportions. Their design reflects the broader objective of creating residential environments that accommodate contemporary living requirements while maintaining continuity with the architectural language of the development.

Claudio Raviolo, ACPV ARCHITECTS’ partner-in-charge for Sensuous Garden’s architecture, identifies the influence of Italian design history as a defining aspect of the project. The reference to Milanese architectural culture informs the relationship between the tower’s exterior and interior spaces, providing a common design framework for the building’s different functions.

Sensuous Garden is the latest project developed by ACPV ARCHITECTS for Continental Development Corporation in Taiwan. The collaboration previously included Treasure Garden, a residential tower in Taichung that opened to residents in 2018, and La Bella Vita, another residential high-rise in Taichung that received an International Architecture Award in 2021.

The project continues the firm’s exploration of residential high-rise architecture by combining architectural clarity, carefully selected materials, and communal facilities. Its integration of hospitality and residential uses reflects the evolving programmatic requirements of mixed-use developments, while its design establishes connections between Italian architectural traditions and Taipei’s local cultural context.