A New Forest of Culture, Taichung Green Museumbrary
A complex housing a library and museum in a park, the Taichung Green Museumbrary reveals how culture can shape a city’s next chapter.
Drawing the City’s Next Chapter
Taichung, Taiwan’s second-largest city, is often called the “City of Culture” for its relaxed rhythm and world-class culinary scene. In recent years, it has also emerged as a global industrial powerhouse, a key hub in the international semiconductor industry and home to leading bicycle manufacturers. The city now aspires to become a sustainable smart city that offers residents greater access to green spaces and the arts.
Among these initiatives is the Taichung Green Museumbrary, a new public landmark designed by the Pritzker Prize–winning Japanese architectural studio SANAA. Situated within Taichung Central Park, a reimagined eco-park on the site of a former airfield, the project embodies the city’s commitment to education and community engagement, while demonstrating its ambition to become a leading cultural hub in Asia.
Blurring Boundaries
The Museumbrary complex uniting the Taichung Art Museum and the Taichung Public Library comprises eight cubic volumes wrapped in a veil of expanded aluminum mesh. Much of the ground floor is raised on pilotis, forming a public plaza beneath the structure that connects seamlessly to the park. The plaza opens into a semi-outdoor entrance lobby centered around a large circular pool, a spot where visitors can pause before exploring the museum or library.
The museum’s five galleries span three architectural volumes, each offering distinct ceiling heights, apertures and light qualities to create a different atmosphere for every encounter. The inaugural exhibition, A Call of All Beings: See You Tomorrow, Same Time, Same Place (running through April 12), is a collaborative effort by an international team including Seoul-based Romanian-Korean curator Anca Mihuleţ-Kim. Featuring works by 70 artists from 20 countries, the exhibition ranges from world-renowned figures such as Joseph Beuys and Joan Jonas to Taiwanese master Chen Hsing-wan and emerging contemporary voices. It also includes a moving tribute to Helen Keller and a rare display of original drawings from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved short story, The Little Prince.
Real Experience in the Digital Age
The Taichung Public Library welcomes visitors through its own ground-floor entrance, while remaining closely connected to the museum via a series of elevated bridges and walkways. Spanning four of the eight structures, it houses a collection of 460,000 physical books, part of nearly one million items in total, and offers dedicated zones for children and teenagers, creating inviting spaces for all ages. Between the museum and the library lies the “Cultural Forest,” a rooftop sanctuary that opens onto the park’s greenery. Here, the boundaries between art and literature dissolve. The Museumbrary serves as a reminder of the value of tangible, shared experiences amid an increasingly digital world.
In Taiwan, libraries have long been woven into everyday life, while art museums can still feel distant to some. By bringing the two together under one roof, Taichung fosters fresh cultural dialogue and rekindles curiosity for the arts. This ambitious project underscores the city’s commitment to placing education, civic welfare, distinguished architecture and generous green space at the center of its urban vision. With upcoming landmarks by world-renowned architects set to open this year — Tadao Ando’s Children’s Book Forest Taichung and a future museum by Frank Gehry — Taichung is rapidly emerging as one of Asia’s most dynamic cultural capitals.
Places to Explore Around the Taichung Green Museumbrary
Taichung Central Park
A 67-hectare urban oasis on the site of a former airfield, the park uses real-time data from sensors to monitor and regulate its environment, proposing a new paradigm for the urban park where nature and civic infrastructure find a quiet resonance.
- cpark.taichung.gov.tw/en
National Taichung Theater
This landmark designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Toyo Ito marks its 10th anniversary this year. In addition to the theater programs, the theater’s grand, first floor lobby has become a lively marketplace with local stalls offering a wide range of handmade crafts.
- www.npac-ntt.org/en
CMP Inspiration
Nestled at the base of a high-rise building near Calligraphy Greenway, this Kengo Kuma designed museum features mostly subterranean galleries. While hosting immersive exhibitions below, its green roof serves as a public space above for a variety of events and concerts.
- cmp-inspiration.com.tw/en
National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
Established in 1988, Taiwan’s first national fine arts museum spans some 102,000m2 including a sculpture park. Celebrated for its curatorial breadth, the museum’s collection is centered around post-war and contemporary Taiwanese art. It also hosts a variety of international exhibitions.
- www.ntmofa.gov.tw/en
Fengchia Night Market
One of Taichung’s largest and most iconic night markets, it comes alive after sunset with the city’s vibrant energy. Packed with stalls selling everything from street food and trendy snacks to clothing and everyday goods, it is especially popular among young locals and travelers. It offers a vivid glimpse into another side of Taichung’s daily life, contrasting with the city’s daytime cultural spaces.
- tavel.taichung.gov.tw/en/attractions/intro/850
- Megumi Yamashita is a London–based journalist and editor covering architecture, design and culture for major publications including Casa BRUTUS. She runs Architabi, a platform for discussing cities and architecture and organizing tours.
- Written by Megumi Yamashita
- Photography by Iwan Baan
- Korean Air operates direct flights between Incheon and Taichung 7 times a week.
