 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BUILDING |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts
|
|
|
|
|
 |
DESIGNER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
DESCRIPTION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Icon |
|
|
|
 The Wei-Wu-Ying Metropolitan Park, the site of a former military complex, is the location for the new Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts of Taiwan. The complex features a concert hall, an opera house, a theatre, a recital hall, and a large outdoor seating area. Hosting a total of 6,000 seats and the most technologically advanced theatre facilities, the new cultural complex will draw world class performing artists and theatre companies.
The Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts will become the new icon of the city of Kaohsiung, the largest harbour city of Taiwan and one of the largest harbour cities in the world with 1.5 million inhabitants. By building the Center for the Arts, the city will symbolize its evolution from a harbour city to a modern cultural city. The high-speed train between Taipei and Kaohsiung was completed recently and the new city metro system is slated for completion within two years. The surrounding 65 hectare park is an integral part of the design brief.
Francine Houben, director of Mecanoo architecten, presented the winning competition design to an international jury of architects, theatre specialists and impresarios. Mecanoo’s design was unanimously selected because of the building’s strength in expression, the integration of the complex with the park, efficient logistical planning, advanced theatre design and facility techniques and the building design’s response to the subtropical climate of the city of Kaohsiung. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Banyan Trees |
|
|
|
 An important source of inspiration for Mecanoo’s building design were the existing centuries-old banyan trees on location. The Banyan tree is one of the world’s largest trees. The crown of the Banyan tree can grow so wide that according to legend, Alexander the Great took shelter underneath it with his entire army.
Mecanoo’s building complex is 225 metres wide and 160 metres deep. Because of the openings in the roof, the passageways and open spaces, an almost porous building is created in which interior and exterior blur. The partially grass and plant covered roof creates natural and efficient building cooling in the subtropical climate. The large roof also provides an informal public space where the city residents can stroll, practice Tai Chi, mediate or just relax.
Inspired by ancient Greek theatre, outdoor seating space was designed on the roof complex at the point where the roof dips to the ground. The surrounding park in turn becomes an informal stage. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Merge |
|
|
|
 Mecanoo designed the surrounding park with light slopes, valleys and water pools creating intimate public spaces varying in size, scale and proportion. Meandering paths lead to a botanical garden, a bamboo grove, a playground, a tea pavilion and a butterfly garden. The park design is a logical continuation of the theater complex with its public open spaces and roofscape. Building and landscape merge naturally, forming a unified whole. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VIDEO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOCATION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Continent |
|
|
Asia |
|
| Nation |
|
|
 Taiwan [Chungua MinKuo] |
|
| Region |
|
|
Southern Taiwan |
|
| Town |
|
|
 Kaohsiung |
|
| Address |
|
|
Sānduō 1st Rd (Wei-Wu-Ying Metropolitan Park)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MAP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TYPOLOGY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Main |
|
|
|
ARCHITECTURE | Buildings for recreational activities
Auditoriums and music centres
Theatres
|
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS | Landscape architecture
Public parks
| |
|
|
|
|
Additional |
|
|
|
ARCHITECTURE | Buildings for cultural activities
Libraries and media libraries
Conference halls
| |
|
|
|
|
CHRONOLOGY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Project |
|
|
|
|
|
2006 - 2009
project winner of competition
|
|
Realisation |
|
|
|
|
|
2010 - 2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
AWARDS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2009 |
|
|
|
| Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Award |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2008 |
|
|
|
Cityscape Architectural Award
Cityscape Dubai |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BIBILIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Andrew Yang, "National Performing Arts Center. Mecanoo", Architectural Record 3/2008, march 2008, p. 41 |
|
|
| Rob Gregory, "Performing art: Mecanoo win in Taiwan", Architectural Review 1323, may 2007, p. 31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CLIENT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Preparatory Office of The Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts of the Council for Cultural Affairs |
|
|
|
|
|
DIMENSIONAL
DATA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Surface |
|
|
|
total sq.m. 141,000
public library sq.m. 800
rehearsal/education halls for music and dance sq.m. 1,000 |
|
| Capacity |
|
|
|
Concert Hall 2,000 seats
Opera House 2,250 seats
Playhouse 1,250 seats
Recital Hall 500 seats |
|
| Number |
|
|
|
| 2 conference halls with 100 and 200 seats |
|
|
|
|
|
STRUCTURES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LANDSCAPE DESIGN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
STAFF |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Architect of record |
|
| Archasia Design Group, Taipei, Taiwan |
|
| Mechanical engineer |
|
|
| Electrical engineer |
|
|
| Acoustical consultant |
|
| Xu Acoustique, Paris, France |
|
| Theatre consultant |
|
Theateradvies, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Yi Tai, Taipei, Taiwan |
|
| Lighting design |
|
| CWI lighting, Taipei, Taiwan |
|
| Consultant |
|
| Oliver Latry, Paris, France |
|
| Roofs consultant |
|
|
| Facades consultant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CREDITS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Images © Mecanoo
Text edited by Mecanoo
Courtesy of Mecanoo
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
