norihiko dan and associates: sun moon lake visitor center

‘sun moon lake visitor center’ by norihiko dan and associates in taiwan all images courtesy norihiko dan and associates

opening to the public later this week is ‘sun moon lake visitor center’ by tokyo-based architecture firm norihiko dan and associates. consisting of two v-shaped volumes that stand lightly nestled into one another, the competition-winning design is a part of ‘landform series’, a development of four sightseeing centers in taiwan.

view from the lake

recognizing that most sightseeing structures largely consist of ‘dead space’ due to the concentration of attention paid to the point with the best view, the design aims to eliminate this by establishing a strong relationship between all points of the architecture to its environment. building within the landform, the facility gradually rises out of the sloping mound, creating an integrated garden rather than severing the topography of the site. the interstitial spaces generated from and between the forms direct sight lines to less-than-obvious views of the scenery, spreading out the focal point of the building.

ground floor exterior space facing the lake

the ground floor of the design connects the center together through an expansive outdoor space finished in exposed concrete. a series of long reflecting pools crossed with flat foot bridges maintain the presence of the lake even in spaces where it is not the visual focus.

the form of the buildings features gentle and dramatic curves, at points funnelingthe space together or fanning out above to provide shade. singularly finished in exposed concrete, the rough texture is emphasized by the light that washes down the surface.

curving exterior surfaces

hollowed out volumes

reflecting pool

view of the interior space that faces the landscape

the roof features a snaking route that allows the visitors to occupy the space for its vertical vantage point. subtly ramped from the lower level, the promenade changes the walker’s orientation to direct a multitude of different views.

roof space

approachto further connect the architecture with the site, a large basin of water sits between the lake-facing windows of the center to the edge of the site. the result is a visual extension of the lake, inviting its elements directly up to the viewer.