National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, Arts and cultural center in Fongshan District, Taiwan.
The National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts is a large building for performing arts in Fongshan District, Taiwan, consisting of several halls and a curving roof structure. The open lobby beneath the roof surface connects the spaces and allows visitors to circulate between theaters, concert halls, and outdoor areas.
The city decided in 2007 to transform the former Weiwuying military site into a cultural center and commissioned Dutch architect Francine Houben for the design. The facility opened in 2018, becoming the first major venue of its kind in southern Taiwan.
The name Weiwuying comes from the old banyan trees that once provided shade for soldiers on the military grounds. The public areas now connect performance spaces with wide park zones, allowing visitors to move between rehearsals, concerts, and outdoor leisure activities.
The Weiwuying station on the Orange Line metro sits directly in front of the building and provides access to entrances and park areas. Most performances take place in the evening, but the public spaces and exhibitions can be visited during the day.
The curving roof structure is made of metal panels that reflect light differently in the sun, giving the building a changing appearance throughout the day. Beneath the roof there are openings that bring natural light into the public areas and create shaded rest zones.
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