Luminous Moon-Gate (Taichung City Cultural Center)

The intent of the design for Luminous Moon-Gate is to hint at multiple interpretative roles for Taichung: a portal into heightened consciousness, a lantern of knowledge, a landmark for orientation.

In traditional Chinese iconography, a Moon-Gate symbolizes a gateway “to the Garden of Paradise.” The paradise of our Information Age aspires to be a future where knowledge and culture shape humankind. At the entrance to the greater Urban Park, the cultural landmarks of the Library and Museum are uniquely suited to provide the basis for this future. The Moon-Gate-like 10-story form of the Library, with its Grand Stair accessible to all citizens, is a potent metaphor for this direction. The buildings feature largely glass surfaces that draw passersby throughout the day and serve as a beacon of activity at night.