National Taichung Theater has become a haven for residents and visitors alike since its opening in 2016 and is now the central city’s most iconic cultural landmark thanks to its avant-garde design, convenient location and large, open spaces.
Designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Toyo Ito from Japan, the structure features cavelike rooms, curved walls, glass surfaces and ducts to let in natural light and air while optimizing acoustics. It is the only national-level performance venue in central Taiwan.
The six-story building consists of the 2,007-seat Grand Theater, 794-seat Playhouse and 200-seat Black Box. It also includes a gallery, a rooftop garden, shops and restaurants, as well as an outdoor plaza and grasslands.
The interior of the Grand Theater echoes the curves of the outer structure and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology. (Courtesy of NTT)
According to NTT General and Artistic Director Joyce Chiou, Ito’s architectural concept was to incorporate the essential elements for life––air, light and water.
“NTT is a place people love to visit, whether to watch performances, take part in activities or enjoy their leisure time,” Chiou said, adding that by providing welcoming, accessible public spaces, the facility engages closely with local communities.
The multipurpose theater is designed to host a variety of performances, from dance and opera to music and puppetry. It also offers exhibitions, guided tours, lectures and workshops throughout the year for all demographics.
NTT’s architecture is drawing in artists as well. Dancer and choreographer Sunny Yang was one of three selected by the theater for its 2021-2022 Artists-in-Residence program.
A major reason Yang applied for residency was NTT’s large, open-access areas. The design philosophy aligns with her troupe’s mission of high-quality dance education for all, she said.
Another NTT artist-in-residence, Chou Man-nung, said the drama of the facility’s interior and exterior spaces inspired her to greater conceptual flexibility and exploration. The director, playwright and creator of interdisciplinary digital performances constantly thought about how to make her work relate to the structure and whether a piece would push community engagement and participation.
Laura Chang, a Taichung local who recently enjoyed an exciting performance at NTT, is thrilled her city finally has a top-notch performing arts center with equal focus on quality and comfort for the audience. Based on such satisfied accolades from the public, Director Chiou has certainly met the goals for NTT. (E) (By Kelly Her)
Visitors are unselfconscious about relaxing in the airy, vaulted public spaces within the complex. (Photo by Chen Mei-ling)
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(This article is adapted from Art Central in the September/October Issue 2022 of Taiwan Review. The Taiwan Review archives dating to 1951 are available online.)