Chiayi City Library & Performing Arts Center

A timber-centric cultural hub in Chiayi, Taiwan, reconnecting the city with its ecological roots. Located at the foot of Alishan, the Chiayi City Library & Performing Arts Center seeks to revive the city’s historical relationship with timber. Once a thriving timber environment, Chiayi's connection to this natural resource was disrupted by a logging ban in the 1980s. This project aims to re-establish that connection through an innovative architectural approach that integrates forestry practices and water management. The building is strategically lowered and consolidated into a compact volume of 112 × 64 × 10.5 meters on an 8 × 8 meter grid, preserving maximum ground area for the surrounding forest. The structure features a concrete foundation, a timber primary structure, and an external steel column and cable tensioning system, facilitating expansive open spaces for library and performance programs. Internally, the library and performance spaces are divided into two distinct zones. The eastern zone, known as the Reading Greenhouse, wraps around a corridor and sunken atrium, enclosed by a glass curtain wall that merges interior and exterior environments. The western zone, the Performance Woodbox, is a timber volume that encloses performance and rehearsal spaces, extending upwards to the rooftop Experimental Farm. This farm restores the building’s footprint to green space, encouraging residents to engage in cultivation and gathering activities.

Design Highlights

Integration of forestry practices with urban architecture. Timber primary structure with steel tensioning system. Reading Greenhouse with glass curtain walls. Performance Woodbox with stacked timber levels. Rooftop Experimental Farm for community engagement.

Key Facts