Urban and Architectural ConceptThis proposal seeks to create a cultural space which is simultaneously a destination and a gateway. By dividing the program into two distinct Figures, rather than a monolithic subdivided block, we allow for a visual and physical connection between the city to the north and Gateway Park to the south. The different character and silhouette of each Figure, along with their verticality, creates visually arresting interstitial spaces and views of city and nature. A third object, the Shroud, connects the two Figures without fusing them into a homogeneous mass. The Museum Figure squishes up into the Canopy, while the Library Figure squishes down into the Canopy from above, creating mysterious elastic formal effects and complex sectional spaces. Despite these local deformations, the cornice height of the Canopy remains at 30M., which is the projected height of the convention center to the north, and also the height limit of the park side setback. This datum creates visual continuity with the urban corridor, helping to avoid the sense of detachment often associated with iconic buildings. The Shroud varies in thickness from razor-thin to thick to allow for structural depth as well as inhabitable spaces. A Sky Deck is located inside the thickest area, connecting the Museum and Library at mid-level and allowing views out over Gateway Park. The design of the skin is influenced by the craft of stitching and seaming in fashion design, where joints are often employed for their visual figuration rather than simply to attach pieces of fabric together. The Shroud is broken down into a patchwork of super-joints which are sometimes real and sometimes fake. Super-joints sometimes track with underlying geometry and sometimes ignore it. The result is a chunky, varied tapestry rather than a relentless panelization aesthetic. By pushing much of the building program into the ground, and lifting the rest up into the Figures and the Shroud, we are able to open up the ground and allow Gateway Park to flow into the site. This loosely bounded space is a sanctuary, featuring green space as well as protection from sun and rain in the harsh tropical environment of Taichung. This sanctuary can be shared by both buildings to host cultural events such as festivals, art markets, and book fairs.

Next Generation Building, Vol 2 (2015): Info-matter