TITLE: Up, Lift, Uplifting

Close your eyes, imagine that you are riding a hot air balloon, setting off on a brand new journey. Floating above the earth, rising above all obstacles, looking down the beautiful world, you feel peace, carefree, fearless, and nothing can frighten you. Go ahead, break the fear barrier, let “impossible” become “I’m possible”. The architecture is DaDong Arts Center, located in Kaohsiung, south of Taiwan. It is designed and created by Taiwan architects Malone, Chang and Yu-Lin, Chen in association with Dutch architect de Architeketen Cie. It is positioned as a multi-functional art place, consisting of multi-purpose performance hall, cultural and creative exhibition hall, and unique artistic library. The design imagery is based on natural environment and local climate. The outdoor space maximizes natural resources like wind, sunshine, rain, etc. The roof shape prevents against extreme climatic conditions such as typhoon, periodically strong rain and high summer temperature. Wide holes in the roof guide the water to inner springs. Warm air rises to the top roof openings generating a fresh inner draft. This is an outstanding architecture not only characteristic but also eco-friendly.

AUTHOR: Shiang Yu You (Taiwan)