Embrace a Circular Lifestyle

Circularity is much more than adopting sustainable materials and products. It is a comprehensive intervention in design, manufacturing, consumption, lifestyle, and service, and its aim is to raise the standard of living through making conscientious choices throughout one’s life cycle. For instance, choosing farm-to-table, more sustainable food, and access to service over conventional, mass-market, and ownership options reduce the carbon footprints and hassles of everyday life. Taisugar Circular Village in Taiwan is a social engagement project that invites residents to take part in the circular economy and adopt a circular lifestyle, while raising their standard of living through sharing and community. 

Total intervention for the long term

Located in Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City in Tainan, Taiwan, Taisugar Circular Village is a residential development that makes it easy for residents to embrace circularity. The people-oriented village was designed to help residents lead a high quality lifestyle that is both enriching, and sustainable. What sets Taisugar Circular Village apart from other similar green housing projects is its comprehensive strategy promoting circularity in architecture, resource management, and service design.

Housing as a service

The village is only ten minute walk from the Tainan High Speed Rail Station, and served by several bus lines. The three housing blocks are identical, as modularisation, prefabrication, and steel construction allow parts to be replaced and recycled. There are 351 rental units that come with different options: lifts, light fixtures, furniture, sanitary ware, air-conditioning and even art works can be rented. All come as a service to promote long-term use and reduce the waste associated with individual ownership. Without changing service standards or consumer behaviour, the long-term thinking of the design produces less waste and improves sustainability. 

Closed-loop sustainable living

The housing complex is an ideal setting for the circular lifestyle and economy. On-site aquaponics farms, community gardens, recycling workshops, and community space mean self-sufficiency, salvaging, and re-use as residents are encouraged to grow their own food and to trade. Smart energy and water management contribute to lower consumption, and rainwater and grey water are collected for aquaponics and farming. Solar panels generate power, and the heat loss from the centralised cooling system is collected to run the domestic hot water system. The village biogas facility turns organic waste into biogas for household use as well as into fertiliser for the community garden and farm.  

As much of the world has been hit by inflation, energy shortages, pollution and climate change, Taisugar Circular Village stays ahead of the game to offer a lifestyle solution that makes both environmental and financial sense. Through renting, sharing, and participating in a circular economy, the residents’ stewardship of the resources and environment they enjoy promotes resilience and smarter growth.

Bio-Architecture Formosana