Luminescent Glass × Sky Garden Night View — The World’s First Suspended Green Building

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

With over 70 years of history, the Kaohsiung Public Library has endured the bombings of World War II, relocations, and other changes. Today, there are 59 Kaohsiung public libraries in total, among which the Main Library was redesigned in 2011 (the 100th year of the Republic of China) and reopened in 2014 (the 103rd year) as a completely new, stylish green building, becoming a cultural landmark that Kaohsiung takes pride in. The Kaohsiung Main Library, once voted the No. 1 “Must-Visit Library” in Taiwan, has become a popular spot for photos. Its light-transmitting glass structure, glowing tree-like columns, and sky garden are all highly eye-catching, attracting many visitors.

Designed with the concept of “trees within the library, the library within the trees,” the green architecture of the Kaohsiung Main Library features a very unique construction method. It uses suspended steel rods, a lightweight design, and glass curtain walls, making it the most transparent library in the world. The Kaohsiung Main Library has eight floors above ground and one basement level, totaling nine floors. The building resembles a large tree, with green energy and environmental concepts integrated into every level. One of the most distinctive features of the Main Library is the use of a giant atrium to create a green environment. Since the entire building was constructed using a suspended construction method from the top down, there are no columns inside the library, making it the world’s first suspended green building and also home to the world’s largest suspended landscape atrium.