The National Taichung Theater lost out, but this place took home Taiwan’s top architecture award.

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

The “2017 Taiwan Architecture Award” previously selected 12 outstanding finalists, and after a three-day site inspection tour, a final selection meeting was held. The “Taipei Tennis Center” won this year’s “Taiwan Architecture Award”; two public buildings in Yilan—“Sanchong Township Office” and “Zhongshan Dome”—received honorable mentions. Among them, the National Taichung Theater faced challenges distinctly different from the other entries, achieving multiple international collaboration records through cross-border conceptual integration, design approaches, and construction techniques, earning the prestigious “Taiwan Architecture Special Award.”

Taiwan Architecture Award – Taipei Tennis Center / Chu-Jian United 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 internationally standard functional requirements, has a reasonable budget, and demonstrates high precision and completeness—a high-quality work overall.

Taiwan Architecture Special Award – National Taichung Theater / Daiwa House Industry + Toyo Ito & Associates
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Toyo Ito, the Taichung Theater was the most challenging of all the finalists, with considerable difficulties in integrating structure, construction, MEP, and fire safety. The design is characterized by spatial fluidity and the relationship between indoor, outdoor, and urban spaces. The breakthroughs achieved by Mr. Ito in this project have been universally acclaimed worldwide.

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 finalists. It features approachable scale and lighting, perfectly integrates diverse needs, and takes local climate and surrounding environment into full consideration—an exceptionally successful work.

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