NOKE Shopping Mall by Behet Bondzio Lin Architekten: A Cultural and Commercial Landmark in Dazhi, Taipei

In an era where department stores face unprecedented challenges due to e-commerce and the pandemic, NOKE Shopping Mall emerges as a bold reinvention of retail spaces. Designed by Behet Bondzio Lin Architekten, NOKE transforms traditional shopping into a cultural, artistic, and recreational destination in the Dazhi district, north of the Keelung River in Taipei.

Reimagining the Department Store

Inspired by Akihisa Hirata's Taipei Complex (2015) and the conceptual Fun Palace by Cedric Price and Joan Littlewood, NOKE prioritizes experiential engagement over conventional retail. Rather than simply simulating nature, the project cultivates a boundless, playful environment, echoing a vision of leisure, culture, and social interaction.

In this way, NOKE functions as a “cultural factory”, integrating arts, literature, and recreation into a traditional shopping experience. The mall breaks the mold by dedicating over 50% of its space to public cultural and artistic activities, including the Tsutaya Bookstore’s literary zone and multiple exhibition spaces.

Architectural Concept and Design

The design reinterprets the department store typology by eliminating the traditional windowed façade. A grand central staircase splits the building’s mass and guides visitors from the overpass into a vertical plaza, connecting retail, cultural, and recreational areas. This vertical circulation integrates:

• Lower levels: Cultural exhibitions and art spaces
• Third and fourth floors: Literary and educational zones
• Rooftop: Ice rink and recreational facilities

A vertical garden on the back wall of the staircase introduces greenery, softening the interior while connecting multiple levels visually and spatially. The ice rink roof uses lightweight folded aluminum panels, allowing north-facing sunlight to enhance energy efficiency and spatial quality.

The exterior features a modular façade pattern based on a 90-centimeter unit, evoking a musical score. This provides an orderly, contemporary aesthetic while allowing branding integration for commercial tenants.

Cultural and Social Integration

Unlike traditional malls, NOKE emphasizes public engagement and community culture. Inspired by the concept of Fun Palace: a post-Depression era public facility in Britain that encouraged shared cultural and intellectual exchange: the mall fosters social interaction, creativity, and leisure.

The project also draws on previous collaborations, such as the Shin-Fu Town Market, to establish a cultural anchor in Dazhi. By integrating art, literature, and recreation, NOKE becomes a cultural catalyst, offering a rich alternative to purely transactional commercial spaces.

Sustainability and Technical Highlights

• Vertical greenery enhances air quality and visual connection
• Lightweight roof structures reduce material use and energy consumption
• Natural daylighting improves indoor environment for exhibitions and public spaces
• Modular façade supports flexibility and efficient maintenance

These strategies combine to make NOKE not just a mall, but a multi-functional public space, blending commerce, culture, and leisure seamlessly.

NOKE Shopping Mall redefines what a department store can be. By fusing retail, culture, art, and recreation, it creates a boundless leisure social factory in Taipei’s Dazhi district. The project demonstrates that even in a challenging retail climate, architecture can craft vibrant, socially engaging, and culturally rich experiences.

All photographs are works of YuChen Chao Photography