The project began with a challenge raised by the Taipei City Government: many tourists had shared feedback that walking from the MRT station to Taipei 101 on rainy days was inconvenient due to the lack of shelter along the way. To address this, the city planned a two-phase construction project to improve both the MRT exit and the entrance to Taipei 101.

This wasn’t a typical product design assignment. Since the awning would become part of the building’s façade, such projects are usually handled by interior or architectural design firms. However, the city and Taipei 101 were looking for fresh perspectives and an innovative solution—so they turned to CRE8.

Our goal was not only to provide protection from the rain but also to design an awning that was as unintrusive as possible—one that would blend seamlessly with the building and appear almost invisible when not in use.

After numerous rounds of concept development and collaboration with stakeholders, we delivered a solution that integrates elegantly with the building’s entrance. The retractable awning can be controlled remotely, offering a dry and welcoming space for visitors to pass through or wait for friends. The final structure is technically sophisticated, yet efficient to build, and performs reliably in various weather conditions.