OMA completes taipei performing arts center with three 'plugged in' volumes

OMA’s futuristic theater beckons new frontiers in the performing arts

The long-anticipated Taipei Performing Arts Center designed by OMA is complete and will officially open to the public on August 7th 2022. Situated in Taipei’s vibrant Shilin Night Market, the new cultural landmark is designed as a place for new possibilities in performing arts. The monumental architecture is made up of three theaters plugged into a central cube. 

‘Theater has a very long tradition. We have seen contemporary performance theaters increasingly becoming standardized, with conservative internal operation principles,’ says OMA Founding Partner Rem Koolhaas. ‘We want to contribute to the history of the theater. Here in Taipei, we were able to combine three auditoria in a particular way. We are interested to see how this architecture will have an impact in terms of extending what we can do in theater.’

evening view of Taipei Performing Arts Center, next to the MRT station

image © OMA by Chris Stowers

The building is composed of a spherical 800-seat Globe Playhouse, a 1,500-seat Grand Theater, and a 800-seat Blue Box plugged into a central cube. The cube accommodates the stages, back stages, and support spaces of the three theaters, allowing the Grand Theater and the Blue Box to be coupled to form a Super Theater—a massive space with factory quality for unsuspected performances. The Globe Playhouse with a unique proscenium allows experimentation with stage framing.

‘The configuration of three theaters plugged into a central cube has resulted in new internal workings of the performing spaces to inspire unimagined productions,’ comments David Gianotten, OMA Managing Partner – Architect.

The central cube is lifted off the ground to create a landscaped plaza. From there, a free-to-access Public Loop—with portal windows open to view inside the three theaters—runs through the infrastructure and spaces for performing arts production that are typically hidden.

Gianotten adds, ‘The Public Loop exposes visitors with and without tickets to these new works and their creative processes. We are excited by how the building constantly generates new relationships between artists, spectators, and the public.’

Globe Playhouse auditorium

image © OMA by Chris Stowers

Kris Yao, Founder of KRIS YAO | ARTECH, the Taiwanese design collaborating architect, says, ‘This new building not only presents itself to the world as a brand new and unique configuration of theater complexes, it also sits perfectly in its location – right at the center where the plebian life of Taipei happens. Its informal, unpretentious, and raw architecture spaces echo the spirits of how citizens of Taipei approach art.’

In terms of architectural form, Taipei Performing Arts Center has multiple faces defined by the protruding auditoria—different than typical performance centers that have a front and a back side. The auditoria with opaque façades appear as mysterious elements docking against the animated and illuminated central cube clad in corrugated glass.

Globe Playhouse auditorium

image © OMA by Chris Stowers

‘The completion of Taipei Performing Arts Center has a significant meaning for the arts,’ comments Liu Ruo-yu, Chairman of Taipei Performing Arts Center. ‘It is special in the sense that it is a platform that grows together with the younger generation. Their continuous reflection and practice will result in a spectacular arts scene in the future.’

Austin Wang, CEO of Taipei Performing Arts Center, adds, ‘Taipei Performing Arts Center’s completion represents the positioning of Taiwanese theater in 21st century contemporary theater. All perspectives are welcome. All possibilities are included. All art forms can happen here.’

See designboom’s previous coverage of the project here and here.

Public Loop

image © Shephotoerd Co. Photography, courtesy of OMA

Grand Theater interior

image © Shephotoerd Co. Photography, courtesy of OMA

image by Hsuan Lang Lin

image © OMA by Chris Stowers

Corrugated glass façade at 11F viewing deck at night

image © Shephotoerd Co. Photography, courtesy of OMA

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Taipei Performing Arts Center next to the Shilin Night Market © OMA by Chris Stowers

Taipei Performing Arts Center in one of the most vibrant districts in Taipei © OMA by Chris Stowers

exterior view showing the Globe Playhouse © OMA by Chris Stowers

exterior view showing the Globe Playhouse © OMA by Chris Stowers

exterior view showing the Grand Theater © OMA by Chris Stowers

exterior view showing the Grand Theater © OMA by Chris Stowers

exterior view showing the Blue Box with a landscaped rooftop and the west tower © OMA by Chris Stowers

perforated aluminum façade detail © OMA by Chris Stowers

central cube corrugated glass façade © Shephotoerd Co. Photography, courtesy of OMA

evening view of Taipei Performing Arts Center, next to the MRT station © OMA by Chris Stowers

ground floor lobby / grand stairs to 2F theater entrance foyer © OMA by Chris Stowers

Grand Theater interior © OMA by Chris Stowers

image by Hsuan Lang Lin

Grand Theater seating © Shephotoerd Co. Photography, courtesy of OMA

Super Theater © OMA by Chris Stowers

Super Theater © OMA by Chris Stowers

Globe Playhouse foyer © Shephotoerd Co. Photography, courtesy of OMA

Public Loop © OMA by Chris Stowers

Public Loop © Shephotoerd Co. Photography, courtesy of OMA

11F viewing deck © OMA by Chris Stowers

view through the corrugated glass © OMA by Chris Stowers

view through the corrugated glass © Shephotoerd Co. Photography, courtesy of OMA

concept diagram © OMA

concept diagram © OMA

concept diagram showing the Public Loop © OMA

sectional perspective of the Globe Playhouse © OMA

sectional perspective of the Super Theater © OMA

concept model three theaters plugged into a central cube, by Frans Parthesius © OMA

image by Hsuan Lang Lin

project info:

name: Taipei Performing Arts Center
status: Completed
client: Authority-in-Charge: Taipei City Government; Executive Departments: Department of Cultural Affairs, Department of Rapid Transit Systems (First District Project Office), Public Works Department (New Construction Office)
location: Shilin District, Taipei
program: Theater. Total 58,658 m2. One 1500-seat theater and two 800-seat theaters
budget: Estimated: 6 billion Taiwan Dollars (around €180 million)
design architect: OMA
partners-in-charge: Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten
project director: Chiaju Lin

collaborators:
executive architect: KRIS YAO | ARTECH (Architect: Kris Yao; Project Principals: Willy Yu, Grace Lin) Theater consultant: dUCKS Scéno, Creative Solution Integration Ltd.
acoustic consultant: Royal HaskoningDHV and Theo Raijmakers (Level Acoustics & Vibration), SM&W Landscape designer, interior designer: Inside Outside
structure, MEP, building physics, fire engineer: Arup
structural engineer: Evergreen Consulting Engineering Inc. Services Engineer: Heng Kai Inc., IS Leng and associates engineers fire engineer: Taiwan Fire Safety Consulting Ltd.
lighting consultant: Chroma 33
façade engineer: ABT, CDC Inc.
sustainability consultant: Segreene Design and Consulting Landscape Consultant: CNHW
geotechnical engineer: Sino Geotech
traffic consultant: Everest Engineering Consultants Inc.
animation: Artefactory

model: RJ Models, Vincent de Rijk
model photography: Iwan Baan, Jeffrey Cheng, Frans Parthesius
site photography: Chris Stowers, Shephotoerd Co. Photography
main construction contractor: International Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd (former general contractor), Sun-Sea Construction Co. Ltd. (façade continuous construction), Ancang Construction Co. Ltd. (interior & landscape continuous construction), Jung Yan Interior Design & Decoration Co., Ltd., Tech-Top Engineering Co., Ltd. (MEP, fire engineer), Shiu Guan Machine Electric Engineering Co. Ltd. (air-conditioning), Jardine Schindler Lifts Limited (elevator facilities)
theater equipment contractor: L&K Engineering Co. Ltd., IX Technology Ltd., JR Clancy, Inc.