In January 2009, OMA won the competition to design the Taipei Performing Arts Center (TPAC) in Taiwan.

This is the proposal by Dutch architectural firm NL Architects who designed a complex which contains a 1500 seat grand theater, two 800 seat theaters, along with other spaces designed purposefully for all performance needs.

NL architects have designed the Taipei Performing Arts Center aiming to make the building accessible to everybody. The public character of the center is guaranteed by the elevation of a substantial part of its program, creating a public square underneath it. As such the square becomes part of the building inside of it.

The design which could be considered to a table with ‘four legs’ supports a ‘tabletop’ that accommodates 3 stories. Inside you’ll find an elevated fragment of the city, a public browsing space where cultural facilities such as a multimedia library, music stores, galleries, lobbies, bars, restaurants and clubs will be included.

Balconies and terraces with different programs will also be included in the space consisting of swimming pools, a skate area, playground, hotel garden and cafe.

The three theaters are positioned on different altitudes. The proscenium playhouse is placed at the base of the southeast ‘leg’. The lobby is placed under this theater so that it is flush with the square activating the space around it. The multiform theater is connected to the southwest leg close to the top. The volume of the grand theater is suspended under the horizontal slab. It hovers over the square while being part of it.

For further information and more pictures visit: www.nlarchitects.nl.