Mecanoo designed the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, located on a former military terrain, as an integral part of the adjacent subtropical park to have a positive social impact on the residents of Kaohsiung whose population counts almost 3 million. Inspired by the local Banyan trees with their iconic crowns, the vast, undulating structure is composed of a skin and roof, and connects an extensive range of functions.
The curved steel structure was built in cooperation between a local and a Dutch shipbuilder. Underneath this roof is Banyan Plaza, a generous, sheltered public space. An open-air theatre nestles on the roof where the structure curves to the ground, with the surrounding park forming the stage. Designed with the subtropical climate in mind, the open structure allows the wind to blow freely through Banyan Plaza.
The seamless flow between interior and exterior creates opportunities for crossovers between formal and informal performances. The cores connect with one another via foyers in the roof and an underground service floor which houses the backstage area of each theatre.
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Video Source: National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts by Mecanoo from A As Architecture on Youtube ⁄ CC BY