The Sound Cave
d+a|Issue 97

Legendary Toyo Ito puts life into the National Taichung Theater as he anatomises the entire fluid structure and breathes soul into it.

Blanca Escoda Agusti
The Sound Cave

Inaugurated in September 2016 after no less than 45 months of construction planning, the National Taichung Theater, Taiwan, is a statement to contemporaneity, or rather, to the contemporary experience of borderless living. The most conceptually singular aspect of the building is the confidence in which it rejects structuring the space with walls, floors and ceilings, thus, actively dismissing the basic concepts on how to organise and think of space. The result is a building that propels the visitor to have a very similar experience one might have when adventuring into the virtual world. Maybe non-existent.

Designed by the Pritzker Prize winner – Japanese conceptual architect Toyo Ito, the building has a 400mm thick concrete curved surface of approximately 21,640 m 2 . The structure is divided into different catenoid units, amounting to 58 in total. It has been built with the truss-wall construction method, used here for the very first time worldwide, making of this Opera House an unquestionable unprecedented building.

Toyo Ito himself explains, “The National Taichung Theatre is not just a building that houses the opera. The entire architecture itself is an opera”. And this is precisely how one should look at and understand this remarkable building. It is erected to be one-of-a-kind, standing at a league of its own; unfazed by anything else the world throws at it.

この記事は d+a の Issue 97 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は d+a の Issue 97 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

D+Aのその他の記事すべて表示
timeless appeal
d+a

timeless appeal

Cosentino’s new collections continue to offer sustainable, durable and innovative surfaces that seamlessly blend into and enhance any contemporary space.

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 134
FIND - design fair asia 2024 returns for third edition
d+a

FIND - design fair asia 2024 returns for third edition

Exciting design innovations and the latest trends from Southeast Asia under one roof.

time-read
2 分  |
Issue 134
Global design hotspot
d+a

Global design hotspot

Highlights of Ambiente 2025: An extensive and diverse global marketplace for consumer goods

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 134
the natural balance
d+a

the natural balance

Inspired by the serene beauty of dewdrops, the Antao Collection by Villeroy & Boch transforms bathrooms into wellness sanctuaries, combining sustainability with timeless elegance.

time-read
2 分  |
Issue 134
balancing act: nature and humanity
d+a

balancing act: nature and humanity

In this inspiration-led series, we asked Jay Liu and Alex Liu, co-founders of Right Angle Studio, to dream up a unique interior concept using mainly items from Space Furniture.

time-read
2 分  |
Issue 134
rethinking, remaking, reframing
d+a

rethinking, remaking, reframing

Aoki Akio, the founder of DESIGNART TOKYO discusses the importance and legacy of Tokyo’s eminent art and design event, particularly for young creatives.

time-read
5 分  |
Issue 134
rebuilding communities
d+a

rebuilding communities

Shift2024, the much-anticipated conference returns with a stellar line-up of prolific architects making their mark in Asian urban design.

time-read
5 分  |
Issue 134
unparalleled italian craftsmanship
d+a

unparalleled italian craftsmanship

Filippo Arnaboldi, Chief Executive Officer of Frette, tells us how this ry lifestyle Italian brand is moving forward with times yet not forgetting about its existing legacy.

time-read
4 分  |
Issue 134
where the mountain meets the sea
d+a

where the mountain meets the sea

This bespoke hillside residence features modern design elements, natural touches, and panoramic ocean views.

time-read
3 分  |
Issue 134
building a green home
d+a

building a green home

This semi-detached house by Zivy Architects explores passive tropical design the delight in architecture and the issues of multi-generational living.

time-read
3 分  |
Issue 134