The Taichung Opera House lost out on Taiwan’s top architecture award to this place.

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team / Compiled and Reported

“2017 Taiwan Architecture Award” previously selected 12 outstanding shortlisted works, and after a three-day on-site inspection tour, held the final selection meeting. The “Taipei Tennis Center” was awarded this year’s “Taiwan Architecture Award”; two public buildings in Yilan—“Sanzhi Township Office” and “Zhongshan Dome”—received honorable mentions. Among them, the National Taichung Theater stood out due to challenges distinct from other entries, cross-border conceptual integration, and design and construction techniques that set multiple international collaboration records, earning the prestigious “Taiwan Architecture Special Award.”

Taiwan Architecture Award – Taipei Tennis Center / Chu-Jian Associated Architects
The Taipei Tennis Center is the competition venue for tennis events at the 2017 Universiade. Designed with green building concepts, the judges noted that the project has clear planning, meets international functional requirements, maintains a reasonable budget, and demonstrates high precision and completeness—making it a high-quality work.

Taiwan Architecture Special Award – National Taichung Theater / Daiwa House Industry & Toyo Ito & Associates
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Toyo Ito, the Taichung Opera House is the most challenging among all shortlisted works, with significant difficulties in structural, constructional, mechanical, electrical, and fire safety integration. The design is characterized by spatial fluidity and the relationship between interior, exterior, and the city. The breakthroughs achieved by Mr. Ito in this project have been globally acclaimed.

Taiwan Architecture Honorable Mention – Zhongshan Dome and Surrounding School Commute Corridor / Fieldoffice Architects
After years of planning and nearly two years of construction, the Zhongshan Dome is the most complete project among the nominees. Its scale and lighting are very approachable, perfectly integrating different needs while considering the local climate and blending well with the surrounding environment—a highly successful work.

Taiwan Architecture Honorable Mention – Sanxing Township Office Administrative Center and Surrounding Revitalization / Kuanhe Architects