KAOHAUS draws inspiration from the Vertical Forest concept in Milan, Italy. For example, a comprehensive academic study of the design determined that the buildings' 3 meter balconies reduced direct sunlight. Therefore, Kaohsiung has encouraged the construction of similar terraces to reduce the heat load of the buildings' roofs and facades. Vertical forest designs also create a green urban landscape instead of a cement and metal facade. Ultimately, KAOHAUS aims to develop a unique architectural vocabulary and brand signalling high quality and international status.

KAOHAUS confronts the problem of illegal construction by encouraging green designs that do not sacrifice building capacity but achieve afforestation vertically. KAOHAUS also simplifies construction application procedures to reduce barriers to building. For example, green buildings receive exemptions from regulations on area and volume if they meet outlined sustainability requirements. These initiatives reduce the urban heat island effect while curbing illegal building activity and promoting development.

KAOHAUS guidelines promote general-purpose designs that are accessible to all ages, especially children and the increasing proportion of senior citizens. Features of general-purpose design include universal baths and toilets, community gathering spaces and handicap-accessible lifts.

Finally, the KAOHAUS policy aims to spread environmental education and awareness. Program promotion efforts help people understand the mutual dependency between architecture and the environment and enhance people's sense of environmental responsibility. Related activities include the following:

• Open public participation:
  KAOHAUS has invited the public to participate in various activities, including 19 seminars with 2053 participants and 12 site visits with 215 participants. They have communicated with relevant industry associations and academic groups to promote inter-sector cooperation and host educational workshops. 
  

• Training land designers in KAOHAUS design:
  KAOHAUS has provided training activities for construction workers, students, professors and designers to learn about modern architecture and environmental sustainability. 
  

• Providing guidance and consultation:
  A KAOHAUS project counseling studio and technical manuals have been made available to designers and construction experts. Directors conduct regular on-site inspections to ensure the safety of buildings and promote open communication with the bureau.
  

• Establishing channels for public inquiry:
  The "push KAOHAUS information network" provides the public with the latest project updates and includes web-based channels for help inquiries. The use of social media like Facebook takes advantage of widespread technologies to engage the public.

• Filming educational documentaries:
  KAOHAUS has shot short videos and documentaries to educate and inform all age groups about the project's benefits to the city. These include overviews of the general-purpose design features.

• Making project data openly available:
  KAOHAUS has cooperated with the municipal government's open data platform to provide a wide range of project-related statistics. This information may be used by the public, enterprises and academic institutions for research or feedback. See it here.

The "KAOHAUS" brand has demonstrated its legitimacy by highlighting an innovative, sustainable and internationally-competitive building industry. Their construction licenses have reached over 26,000 households and created over 260,000 square meters of total green area. The project is expected to achieve 108 metric tons of carbon reduction per year as a result of the initiative. Furthermore, universal design has vastly increased the amount of space accessible to wheelchair users. Overall, a positive public perception toward the city's "green revolution" will improve quality of life and the community's sense of environmental responsibility.

The KAOHAUS program has myriad benefits for the Kaohsiung City as well. For instance, the city set up a sustainable green building management fund supported by government experts. It serves as a funding mechanism for disaster prevention, environment and low-carbon development needs. To date, the fund has managed over 600 million NTD and anticipates a continued income of 200 million NTD in the coming years. This will enable ongoing environmental building construction and innovation efforts. An additional benefit of KAOHAUS is reducing the cost of dismantling illegal buildings. Rather than the cost of demolishing structures like illegally built garages, KAOHAUS provides on-site counseling to improve the facilities instead.

The Future of KAOHAUS

The next iteration of KAOHAUS will put a greater emphasis on human-centered innovations. Dubbed "KAOHAUS GO," it will integrate localized architecture with "Green" sustainability strategies and "Orange" human considerations (Kao + haus + G + O). KAOHAUS will also incorporate the latest technologies from the Taiwan's thriving ICT industry with the ultimate goal of designing new ways to improve residents' happiness and safety.

KAOHAUS aims to achieve the goal through seven major initiatives:

(1) Construction techniques:
KAOHAUS will promote new systems for construction quality and efficiency, such as inspections, process monitoring, comprehensive documentation and open data provision regarding construction projects.

(2) Expansion of age-inclusive facilities:
KAOHAUS will expand all-age accessibility facilities and universal design. This may include rest areas for the elderly and common kitchens with nutrition support. Other facilities include parking and charging for electric vehicles.

(3) Dimensional greening:
KAOHAUS will promote green corridor facilities by planting trees and vines on building facades and installing green roofs. This will follow the three-dimensional aesthetic landscape of Milan's vertical forest.

(4) "The box of life" home shelters:
KAOHAUS will encourage building shelters for families to seek refuge during strong earthquakes. Shelters should be equipped with thick walls, a fire-resistant steel plate door, a vent and fire resistance tools.

(5) Smart living technologies:
KAOHAUS will apply "smart" technologies to increase the sustainability of everyday living, including strengthening intelligent construction, energy management, water resource management and disaster warning systems.

(6) Air parking:
KAOHAUS will promote air parking among different building types. The elevators assist both human and vehicle transportation. Besides increasing convenience, it can also save time for transferring and stopping as society ages.

(7) Experimental architecture:
KAOHAUS hopes to inspire Kaohsiung to become a hub of architectural innovation and experimentation. It can become a test site to verify the benefits of construction methods that integrate health, social, environmental and economic concerns.