© Shawn Liu Studio[/caption]
PALACE MUSEUM SOUTHERN BRANCH | KRIS YAO | ARTECH
Chiayi, Taiwan
Description provided by the architect. Composed of three distinct fluid forms, each represents inspiration from the three Chinese calligraphy strokes: the thick ink, the half-dry, and the smearing, the Palace Museum Southern Branch will present itself as an ink-dark, sensuous sculptural form sitting within the surrounding green rice and sugar cane fields.
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Concept image courtesy of KRIS YAO | ARTECH[/caption]
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© Shawn Liu Studio[/caption]
The three forms also contain different functions: due to sensitivity of natural light level for the artifacts, the solid form houses the curatorial department and exhibition halls; the glass-and-steel “void” volume facilitates museum lobby, café, library and administration offices; the third smearing stroke flows through intersecting solid and void forms, linking various spaces with smooth circulation pattern.
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© Shawn Liu Studio[/caption]
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© Shawn Liu Studio[/caption]
Visitors arrive at the gate of the museum site will have a glance at the main building across the lake. After crossing a curved pedestrian bridge, which is an integral part of the architecture design, one would pass under the glass volume and arrive at a tranquil bamboo courtyard before entering the museum building.
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© Jeffrey Cheng[/caption]
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© Shawn Liu Studio[/caption]
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© Shawn Liu Studio[/caption]
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© Shawn Liu Studio[/caption]
In the grand lobby, large glass curtain wall frames the views of the lake and landscape. A grand stairway gently rises up and leads visitors to the orientation room where the glass volume hits the solid volume as the exhibitions unfold.
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© Shawn Liu Studio[/caption]
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© Shawn Liu Studio[/caption]
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© Shawn Liu Studio[/caption]
The exterior of the solid form is composed of more than 36,000 pieces of cast aluminum “disks” attached to the curved surfaces, depicting an ancient bronze dragon and cloud patterns using modern digitized design. As the sun moves, the reflection from the disks will reveal a “moving” dragon in the clouds on this uniquely designed façade.
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© Commonwealth Publishing Group[/caption]
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© Jeffrey Cheng[/caption]
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© KyleYu[/caption]
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© Jeffrey Cheng[/caption]
