National Taichung Theater Introduction
The Taichung National Opera House features a cutting-edge design based on the concept of "Sound Cave," incorporating unique elements such as curved walls, holes, and tubular structures. The entire building is free of supporting beams or columns, and not a single wall is at a 90-degree angle, redefining the concept of traditional architecture. After years of planning and construction, a theater that coexists with people and nature is about to be born in Taichung. The smooth arc lines quietly nurture the anticipation of the public, while the glass curtain reflects the blue sky, and the surrounding green spaces and flowing water create an urban paradise. The facade of the "Sound Cave" resembles a curvaceous wine jug, with audiences metaphorically intoxicated by the brilliance of performances, marveling at the endless possibilities of art. The building's facade is adorned with multiple cylindrical windows, which emanate elegance and warmth at night when illuminated. This is a cradle of performing arts, a place for relaxation and acquiring new knowledge, and the starting point for the renewal of cultural life in central Taiwan. This is the Taichung National Opera House. Beautiful creations demand thorough preparation, especially for a venue that internalizes art and culture into life. In 1992, the Education Department of the Taiwan Provincial Government planned the "National Taichung Music Art Center," which was later renamed "National Concert Hall," aiming to establish an internationally competitive performing arts center for Taiwan. After meticulous revisions of the scale and name of the venue, in 2005, the construction project of the "Taichung Metropolitan Opera House" was officially approved by the National Council on Cultural Affairs (now the Ministry of Culture). With the construction project confirmed, the venue's architectural decision was made through an international competition involving architectural teams from 13 countries, including Taiwan, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, divided into two phases for evaluation. Ultimately, Japanese architect Toyo Ito stood out. With a clear architectural profile established, years of preparation had already accumulated enough energy to set the operational direction of the opera house as an internationally recognized venue. From the initial design to the completed building, the opera house has undergone the tempering of time and rigorous challenges. During the competition phase, Ito adopted avant-garde design perspectives that challenged existing thought patterns, pre-conceiving the outline of the building and integrating the stage into curved walls according to performance characteristics. The second phase focused on spatial efficiency, examining feasible design structures and innovatively connecting the grand theater and the medium theater's foyer. Finally, adjustments were made to the internal pathways based on visual and auditory experiences within the opera house, returning to the interaction between "people" and space, emphasizing the artistic energy resonating in the "Sound Cave." The laughter, sorrow, and emotions presented in performing arts thus gain enhancement and amplification. The Taichung National Opera House features 58 curved walls, each consisting of 1,372 panels that must be custom-made, prohibiting mass production and constituting a meticulous engineering endeavor. Due to the extreme construction difficulties, the Taichung National Opera House is referred to in the architectural industry as "the hardest building to construct in the world," and the "curved wall" construction method has received global patent certification. The internal space of the Taichung National Opera House includes a large theater (2,007 seats), a medium theater (794 seats), a small theater (200 seats), as well as an underground parking lot and related public spaces. The landscape design surrounding the building is also planned as an integral part of the Sound Cave. Every one of the 2,014 seats inside the opera house allows for the same auditory feast, with no poor sightlines, ensuring every seat has a clear view of the stage. Spaces resembling treehouses or caves do not lead people back to the past; rather, they utilize modern technology and materials to liberate the rigid and cold environment, transforming the stark lines of urban outlines into a soft realm filled with life. The flowing water and open imagery of the sky garden surrounding the venue break down the binary distinctions between the stage and audience, and between indoors and outdoors, reinstating the sensory connection to the environment that modern individuals gradually lose, creating more possibilities for dialogue among people, architecture, and art. The "greatness" of architecture lies not in how much steel, concrete, and glass curtains are used to construct giant outlines. In the past, people pursued the tallest and most grandiose buildings, attempting to prove the possibility of man's triumph over nature. Today, however, there is an attempt to find the principles of coexistence with nature and the environment, returning to the essence of life—centered on human experiences. Everyone ultimately yearns to tell stories, listen to music, move their bodies to the rhythms of dance, and appreciate the exquisite charm of traditional arts. These are the true "greatness" that the Taichung National Opera House takes pride in. Coexisting with nature, the fluid spaces gently embrace humanistic arts. The skeletal curved walls and the transparent glass curtains allow sunlight to pour in naturally and let the wind flow freely. At night, these openings radiate warm glows, giving birth to the breath and life of the Taichung National Opera House. Additionally, there is a green park within the Taichung National Opera House, where even the water channels in the park extend into the building, breaking the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.
