‘SWALLOW’S NEST’ DESIGNED BY – VINCENT CALLEBAUT ARCHITECTURES It is a faceted gem of culture anchoring the northeast entrance to Taichung Gateway Park in Taiwan. Formerly an airfield, the space is being developed as an urban ecosystem.

The building’s form is a triangle rotated 80 times around an elliptical Mobius strip. As it spirals around an ellipse, the volume elevates from the ground plane, leaving vaulted apertures to the central void, which becomes the ‘endless patio’. Vertices of the geometry sink below ground, creating a large lobby with reception, ticketing, shops, and cafes.

A glass canopy hovers at ground level, opening the space to direct sunlight, and providing a feature in the courtyard above. A hall connects this subterranean

space to the convention centre, workshops, and archives. The lowest levels consist of underground parking and systems of protection from natural disasters.

(Left): permeability through the swallow’s nest at ground level connects the ‘endless patio’ to the park

(Centre): circulation through the building

(Right): roof plan

Structural Diagram

Structural Diagram

1st Floor Plan

2nd Floor Plan

3th Floor Plan

4th Floor Plan

5th Floor Plan

6th Floor Plan

7th Floor Plan

8th Floor Plan

Solar roof plan

LOWER GROUND LEVEL

Floor plan level B1

Floor plan level B2

Floor plan level B3 & B4

North-east elevation and section

South-west elevation and section 

North-west elevation and section

South-east elevation and section

Project info:

Project: Taichung city cultural centre / public library and fine arts museum

Location: Taichung, Taiwan

Type: international competition

Host organization: construction bureau, Taichung city government

Sponsor: cultural affairs bureau, Taichung city government “cab”

Project title: Taichung city cultural centre planning, design and construction supervision service project

Contract performance location: xitun district, Taichung city

Surface area: 62.720 m²

Budget: $ 2.410.000.000

Team: vincent callebaut, frederique beck, julien combes, benoit patterlini

Edited by Archipedia…..