The Blue

‘The temptation... is to regard the refurbished building (The Blue) ... as a work of art itself. Because in many ways it is.’
— South China Morning Post

‘Looking at the project from the street, its bright blue render, béton brut plinth and openness certainly provoke a visceral reaction.’
— The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

‘Tszwai So’s The Blue hotel redefines Taipei’s landscape.’
— Wallpaper* Magazine

‘Un hôtel “émotionnel”à Taïwan.’
— French weekly newspaper Courrier International

‘In the city of Taipei, a striking narrative of the emotionalist movement unfolds within the walls of ‘The Blue’, by Just Inn.’
— American Institute of Architects

The Blue is an experimental transformation of a 50-year-old commercial building in central Taipei into a public art piece/functioning hotel for a Taiwan-based affordable hotel chain. Originally built in 1970 as an insurance office, the ten-story, 2,000 m² building was retrofitted to explore low-cost, low-carbon renovation strategies common in the Global South. The newly refurbished hotel features 56 guest rooms and a free art space on the GF. The project minimised carbon emissions by upcycling waste materials from the original structure into new artworks and installations. Retaining much of the existing fabric and rejuvenating components instead of demolishing them ensured sustainability while lending the interior a raw, natural aesthetic. This marks the most ambitious project under the ‘Emotionalist’ initiative, an international art/architecture movement reflecting on humanity in an AI-dominated era. Inspired by the Taiwan Blue Magpie, the building’s striking blue hue comes from locally sourced iron oxide.