NUU Architecture Student Wins Merit Award in 2026 Good Housing Architectural Design Competition with “Building Our Harbor”
National United University’s Department of Architecture has achieved another success in a national design competition. Under the guidance of Professor Chen Shang-Yuan, fifth-year architecture student Huang Yi-Kai was selected for a Merit Award in the 2026 Good Housing Architectural Design Competition, organized by the Baofang Group. His proposal, Building Our Harbor, stood out among entries from universities across Taiwan, demonstrating NUU’s strength in contemporary housing design, community development, and sustainable environmental design.
The 2026 Good Housing Architectural Design Competition encourages young designers to rethink traditional housing concepts by considering residents’ needs, community interaction, and environmental sustainability. With Professor Chen’s guidance, Huang explored the relationship between young people and local communities and developed a housing proposal that combines public space, community connection, and sustainable design.
The award-winning project, Building Our Harbor, is located in Shalun, Tamsui. According to Huang, the design was inspired by the historical role of Tamsui Harbor as a place where ships could resupply, dock, and rest. This idea was transformed into the concept of a “modern harbor,” envisioned as a place where young people and local residents can find both everyday amenities and a sense of belonging. The project reimagines conventional collective housing as a shared platform for exchanging knowledge, skills, and resources, turning housing from simply a place to live into a community harbor where people can connect, share experiences, and support young people in pursuing their goals.
The spatial design of Building Our Harbor emphasizes integration with the surrounding neighborhood. The ground floor adopts an open, boundary-free approach that follows the circulation of the surrounding streets and includes commercial shops, a Shopee pick-up store, a self-service laundromat, and a day-care center. By opening the residential complex to its surroundings, the design connects everyday services with the local community and encourages interaction between residents and neighbors. On the second floor, a range of shared facilities—including a gym, baking classroom, library, and communal dining space—is connected by a central skybridge between the two building volumes. This extends social activity from the ground floor upward, creating a multi-level “vertical community.”
The project also responds to Tamsui’s challenging coastal environment, including strong sea winds and intense sunlight. Its building facade features a “honeycomb double-skin” system combined with vertical greenery and rainwater harvesting. The design provides shading and natural cooling while helping reduce operational and maintenance costs. At the same time, the greenery adds warmth and depth to the building facade, making environmental design an integral part of the project’s architectural expression.
The Department of Architecture at NUU emphasizes connecting design theory with real-world contexts and encourages students to engage with environmental and social issues. Huang’s achievement in this national competition recognizes the collaborative efforts of the student and faculty while demonstrating the department’s continued work in sustainable architecture and innovative housing design. The department will continue to strengthen its professional education and cultivate future architects with integrated design skills, social responsibility, and a strong awareness of people and communities.
Photos and text provided by the Department of Architecture
September 17, 2026
The 2026 Good Housing Architectural Design Competition encourages young designers to rethink traditional housing concepts by considering residents’ needs, community interaction, and environmental sustainability. With Professor Chen’s guidance, Huang explored the relationship between young people and local communities and developed a housing proposal that combines public space, community connection, and sustainable design.
The award-winning project, Building Our Harbor, is located in Shalun, Tamsui. According to Huang, the design was inspired by the historical role of Tamsui Harbor as a place where ships could resupply, dock, and rest. This idea was transformed into the concept of a “modern harbor,” envisioned as a place where young people and local residents can find both everyday amenities and a sense of belonging. The project reimagines conventional collective housing as a shared platform for exchanging knowledge, skills, and resources, turning housing from simply a place to live into a community harbor where people can connect, share experiences, and support young people in pursuing their goals.
The spatial design of Building Our Harbor emphasizes integration with the surrounding neighborhood. The ground floor adopts an open, boundary-free approach that follows the circulation of the surrounding streets and includes commercial shops, a Shopee pick-up store, a self-service laundromat, and a day-care center. By opening the residential complex to its surroundings, the design connects everyday services with the local community and encourages interaction between residents and neighbors. On the second floor, a range of shared facilities—including a gym, baking classroom, library, and communal dining space—is connected by a central skybridge between the two building volumes. This extends social activity from the ground floor upward, creating a multi-level “vertical community.”
The project also responds to Tamsui’s challenging coastal environment, including strong sea winds and intense sunlight. Its building facade features a “honeycomb double-skin” system combined with vertical greenery and rainwater harvesting. The design provides shading and natural cooling while helping reduce operational and maintenance costs. At the same time, the greenery adds warmth and depth to the building facade, making environmental design an integral part of the project’s architectural expression.
The Department of Architecture at NUU emphasizes connecting design theory with real-world contexts and encourages students to engage with environmental and social issues. Huang’s achievement in this national competition recognizes the collaborative efforts of the student and faculty while demonstrating the department’s continued work in sustainable architecture and innovative housing design. The department will continue to strengthen its professional education and cultivate future architects with integrated design skills, social responsibility, and a strong awareness of people and communities.
Photos and text provided by the Department of Architecture
September 17, 2026
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