Kaohsiung residents unwrap a gift: The new central library opens with a tree inside, straight out of a fairy tale

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department, compiled and reported

After four years of anticipation, the new central branch of the Kaohsiung Public Library — the world’s first library to attempt a suspended architectural design — was completed on November 13. The hardware construction of the new central library was fully funded by the municipal budget, while its collection of one million books was entirely donated by private sources. Together, the government and citizens made this dream a reality, not only creating an enduring cultural landmark but also establishing Kaohsiung as a gateway to the world through reading.

The new central branch of the Kaohsiung Public Library is the first national-level public library in Taiwan to be jointly completed by the government and private sector. The city government invested NT$1.9 billion in constructing the building, while private donations totaling NT$500 million were used to purchase books. Together, they created a new cultural landmark for Kaohsiung, which began trial operations on the 13th. The inauguration ceremony, accompanied by a beautiful symphony and dazzling colored smoke, featured a thousand people pulling open a giant ribbon bow together, symbolizing a gift to Kaohsiung. The building features a rare suspended structural design, combined with green building standards, proudly standing in the Asia New Bay Area. Even before completion, it was awarded the Special Prize for Gold Quality in Public Construction, marking the first time the city government has claimed first place in the architecture category.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that the new central library won the international design competition’s top prize for its concept of a “green architectural cultural landmark with trees within the building and a building within the trees.”It is characterized as a library with six firsts, including: the world’s first suspended green building, the world’s largest suspended landscape atrium, the world’s most transparent landscape library, the world’s first column-free covered plaza with a 7.5-meter ceiling height, Taiwan’s first comprehensive system building, and Taiwan’s most functionally flexible building. In addition, the “column-free interior space” and the “top-down construction method” are two standout construction techniques. Beyond emphasizing the relationship between people, books, and trees, it also documents a beautiful vision of an unprecedented civic movement.