Architecture

World's largest performing arts center opens in Taiwan

World's largest performing arts center opens in Taiwan
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan houses a huge public plaza under its undulating roof
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan houses a huge public plaza under its undulating roof
View 42 Images
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan houses a huge public plaza under its undulating roof
1/42
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan houses a huge public plaza under its undulating roof
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is billed as a new cultural hub for East Asia
2/42
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is billed as a new cultural hub for East Asia
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is an expansive facility that references the local landscape
3/42
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is an expansive facility that references the local landscape
The recital hall at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
4/42
The recital hall at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is described as the largest performing arts center in the world
5/42
Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is described as the largest performing arts center in the world 
the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is an expansive facility that references the local landscape
6/42
the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is an expansive facility that references the local landscape
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan houses a huge public plaza under its undulating roof
7/42
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan houses a huge public plaza under its undulating roof
One particularly interesting feature of the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is the outdoor amphiteater, which is actually built into the roof as it slopes downwards towards the park
8/42
One particularly interesting feature of the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is the outdoor amphiteater, which is actually built into the roof as it slopes downwards towards the park
Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is described as the largest performing arts center in the world
9/42
Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is described as the largest performing arts center in the world 
Inside the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
10/42
Inside the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is billed as a new cultural hub for East Asia
11/42
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is billed as a new cultural hub for East Asia
Getting active at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
12/42
Getting active at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan houses a huge public plaza under its undulating roof
13/42
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan houses a huge public plaza under its undulating roof
Getting active at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
14/42
Getting active at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
Getting active at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
15/42
Getting active at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
Inside the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
16/42
Inside the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
Opening festivities at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
17/42
Opening festivities at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is billed as a new cultural hub for East Asia
18/42
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is billed as a new cultural hub for East Asia
Opening festivities at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
19/42
Opening festivities at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
Inside the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
20/42
Inside the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
Opening festivities at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
21/42
Opening festivities at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is billed as a new cultural hub for East Asia
22/42
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is billed as a new cultural hub for East Asia
The Opera House at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
23/42
The Opera House at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
Around 50,000 people attended the opening of the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
24/42
Around 50,000 people attended the opening of the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan 
Performances over the opening weekend included showings from the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taiwanese and international soloists and light shows
25/42
Performances over the opening weekend included showings from the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taiwanese and international soloists and light shows
Opening festivities at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
26/42
Opening festivities at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
Around 50,000 people attended the opening of the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
27/42
Around 50,000 people attended the opening of the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan 
Performances over the opening weekend included showings from the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taiwanese and international soloists and light shows
28/42
Performances over the opening weekend included showings from the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taiwanese and international soloists and light shows
Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is described as the largest performing arts center in the world
29/42
Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is described as the largest performing arts center in the world
Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is described as the largest performing arts center in the world
30/42
Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is described as the largest performing arts center in the world
Opening festivities at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
31/42
Opening festivities at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
Performances over the opening weekend included showings from the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taiwanese and international soloists and light shows
32/42
Performances over the opening weekend included showings from the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taiwanese and international soloists and light shows
Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is described as the largest performing arts center in the world
33/42
Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is described as the largest performing arts center in the world
Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is described as the largest performing arts center in the world
34/42
Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is described as the largest performing arts center in the world
Opening festivities at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
35/42
Opening festivities at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
Performances over the opening weekend included showings from the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taiwanese and international soloists and light shows
36/42
Performances over the opening weekend included showings from the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taiwanese and international soloists and light shows
Performances over the opening weekend included showings from the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taiwanese and international soloists and light shows
37/42
Performances over the opening weekend included showings from the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taiwanese and international soloists and light shows
Performances over the opening weekend included showings from the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taiwanese and international soloists and light shows
38/42
Performances over the opening weekend included showings from the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taiwanese and international soloists and light shows
Inside the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
39/42
Inside the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan houses a huge public plaza under its undulating roof
40/42
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan houses a huge public plaza under its undulating roof
Opening festivities at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
41/42
Opening festivities at the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan
Banyan trees served as inspiration for the center
42/42
Banyan trees served as inspiration for the center
View gallery - 42 images

Billed as a new cultural hub for East Asia, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is an expansive facility that references the local landscape and houses a huge public plaza under its undulating roof. Around 50,000 people attended the opening last week, with the center's large performances spaces playing host to an inaugural concert and ceremony.

Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is described as the largest performing arts center in the world and covers 141,000 sq m (1,518,000 sq ft) in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung. Built on former military land, the new facility sits alongside subtropical parklands and is inspired by Banyan trees, a species typical in the area with a distinctive web of sprawling trunks at its base.

The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is an expansive facility that references the local landscape
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan is an expansive facility that references the local landscape

This form was adapted to the primary structure of the arts center, with the undulating roof supported by a set of performance halls that represent the trunks touching the ground. One of those is the stunning 1,981-seat concert hall designed like a stepped vineyard, with oak-lined terraces encircling the podium to make for intimate performances.

The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan houses a huge public plaza under its undulating roof
The National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts in Taiwan houses a huge public plaza under its undulating roof

Others include a horseshoe-shaped 2,236-seat Opera House with three circled balconies, a 1,210-seat drama and dance center, and the most intimate of the lot, a 434-seat recital hall. The open spaces in between are designed to counter the subtropical climate by encouraging airflow through the plaza, which doubles as a covered public space for walking, street performing or, according to Mecanoo, practicing Tai Chi.

One particularly interesting feature of the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is the outdoor amphiteater, which is actually built into the roof as it slopes downwards towards the park.

One particularly interesting feature of the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is the outdoor amphiteater, which is actually built into the roof as it slopes downwards towards the park
One particularly interesting feature of the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts is the outdoor amphiteater, which is actually built into the roof as it slopes downwards towards the park

Among the performances over the opening weekend were showings from the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taiwanese and international soloists, light shows, Taiwanese aboriginal dance, opera, puppetry and digital art. The Inauguration Season continues until January 1, 2019, and you can check out the gallery to see some of the opening weekend highlights.

Source: Mecanoo

View gallery - 42 images
1 comment
1 comment
Imran Sheikh
i see a great amount of lift if air flows through green structure towards the building.