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18 Oct 2018
Mecanoo reveal historic mega-theatre in Taiwan
By Andrew Manns
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The arts space opened to the public on 13 October.
Photo: Courtesy of Mecanoo
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The Mecanoo-designed National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts, hailed as the "largest performing arts centre in the world" has opened in Taiwan.
Impressively, the massive steel structure – which takes visual cues from Banyan trees and the sinuous hulls of ships – is home to a 1,981-seat concert hall, a 2,236-seat opera house, 1,210-seat playhouse, and a 434-seat recital hall.
The arts hub, which is located in the vicinity of the harbour city of Kaohsiung in the 116-acre (470,000sq m) Weiwuying park, also has a public library, conference halls, a plaza for socialising and recreational activities, and an outdoor, rooftop amphitheatre.
Executive and artistic director Chien Wen-Pin, current Kapellmeister of Deutsche Oper am Rhein and former music director of the Taiwan Philharmonic, said the new attraction would be "one of the most beautiful, iconic and best-equipped performing arts centres in the world" and serve as a springboard for up-and-coming talents.
"We have aimed to deliver a flagship cultural destination for Taiwan," said Francine Houben, founding architect of Mecanoo, "a beacon to attract performers and audiences from around the world."
The venue’s grand opening was attended by an estimated 50,000 spectators.
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