OMA's long-awaited taipei performing arts center opens its doors

taipei performing arts center opens to the public 

On  August 7, 2022, the Taipei Performing Arts Center designed by OMA opened its doors to the public. Located at Taipei’s vibrant Shilin Night Market, the new cultural landmark is a place for the cultural creatives and the public to explore new possibilities in performing arts and experience different aspects of the theater. The project which is jointly led by Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten, presents an eye-catching architectural design made up of three theaters plugged into a central cube. 

the project presents an eye-catching architectural design made up of three theaters plugged into a central cube

all images courtesy of OMA

three enigmatic theaters around a central cube

The adaptable compact structure is made up of a 1,500-seat Grand Theater, a 1,500-seat Globe Playhouse, and an 800-seat Blue Box that is connected to a central cube. Since the cube accommodates the stages, backstages, and support rooms of the three theaters, the Grand Theater and the Blue Box can be joined to create the Super Theater, a vast area with factory-quality for unexpected performances. The Globe Playhouse features a distinctive proscenium, allowing for free stage framing experimentation. The auditoria of the theaters with the opaque facades emerge as enigmatic elements moored against the animated and illuminated central cube clad in corrugated glass.

To make room for a landscaped plaza, the architects have raised the central cube off the ground. From there, a Public Loop – with portal windows open to views inside the three theaters – runs through the infrastructure and spaces for performing arts production that are typically hidden.

the compact structure is made up of a 1,500-seat Grand Theater, a 1,500-seat Globe Playhouse, and an 800-seat Blue Box connected to the main cube

‘When we first visited Taipei for the competition, we felt it was a city with an appetite for experiment. This building is a response to that discovery. We put three traditional theatres together in a way that offers theatre makers completely new opportunities to conceive spectacles and performances. We are proud to be part of the effort to realize the performing arts center, which became possible only with the knowledge, creativity, and perseverance of city, collaborators, and architects.’ shares Rem Koolhaas, Founding Partner of OMA (see more here). 

‘It is extremely rewarding to see cultural creatives, audiences and visitors using the building both as we envisioned and in unexpected ways. The theatre culture and the vibrant street culture coexist in this public building and around the site. For us, this mix of cultures aptly captures the energy of Taipei, a city always open to changes.’ adds David Gianotten, Managing Partner – Architect at OMA. 

to make room for a landscaped plaza, the architects have raised the central cube off the ground

the grand theater and the blue box can be joined to create the super theater, a vast area with factory-quality for unexpected performances

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.