Taipei Weather Station wins Gold A' Design Award

The Taipei Weather Station by IMO Architecture and JC Cheng Associates has won a Gold A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category. The meteorological center was recognized for wind-responsive elements, typhoon and earthquake resilience, and a design that connects scientific work with the natural environment.

Why it matters: - The Gold A' Design Award puts the Taipei Weather Station among a small group of architecture projects recognized for innovation, functionality and environmental performance. - The award highlights a broader shift in scientific and workplace design toward spaces that support human well-being as well as technical work. - The project offers a reference for weather and research facilities that need resilience, sustainability and a better user experience.

What happened: - The A' Design Award named The Taipei Weather Station by IMO Architecture and JC Cheng Associates a Gold winner in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category. - The project is a meteorological instruments center in Taipei. - The award announcement was dated Sept. 14, 2026. - The recognition came through the A' Design Award's blind peer review process and expert jury evaluation.

The details: - The design uses movable Corten fins that respond to wind and return to zero degrees after gusts through a cable suspension system. - Rain moves across the fins' undulating surfaces, making weather visible in the architecture. - A three-dimensional roof inspired by synoptic weather charts links three buildings that house two weather bureau departments and a multifunctional room. - The roof also harvests rainwater for irrigation. - Reinforced concrete gives the project resilience against typhoons and earthquakes. - Deep overhangs help filter subtropical sun. - A below-grade wind tunnel reduces vibration and noise near sensitive instruments and tests facade resilience. - The project was developed with a large team that included Mario Hidalgo, Jose Mari­a Crespo, Ina Dai, Urdaneta Zeberio, Jeff Lu, Lain Satrustegui, Sanjain Chen, Atelier Boronski, Eurie Huang, Jon Saenz del Castillo, Michael Blaeser, Lynn Zheng, Eleni Karypidou, Mu Liu, Laura Morales, Ignacio Juarez, Weiching Chen, Daniel Cheng, Huang Yi-Chan, Liao Wei-Chen, Dai Gan-Yun, Lin Ching-Tang, Hsiao Chih-Wen and Chou Mei-Huei. - More information is available on the project page.

Between the lines: - The award framing suggests the jury valued more than aesthetics, including measurable innovation, environmental responsiveness and the building's impact on occupants. - The project reflects a design approach that treats climate forces as part of the architecture rather than something to hide. - IMO Architecture and JC Cheng Associates are positioning research-driven tools such as digital analysis and wind tunnel testing as central to their process.

What's next: - The recognition may influence future work by IMO Architecture and JC Cheng Associates, especially projects that combine technical precision with contextual design. - The project could encourage more scientific facilities to balance laboratory performance with comfort, creativity and mental health. - The award also serves as a benchmark for future weather-related and public institutional buildings that aim to integrate sustainability with resilience.