Wooden Wonders in Chiayi: An Architectural Experience Connecting Local Heritage with Sustainability
The Magic of Architecture as a Message for a Place
There is something unique about architecture when it transforms from mere design into a love letter to a specific place. In Chiayi City, Taiwan, a temporary project managed to embody this meaning clearly, where the goal was not just to showcase a building, but to reconnect with the city’s historical identity.
Celebrating Heritage Instead of Tradition
Imagine Chiayi celebrating its 321st birthday, but instead of a traditional tent, a temporary wooden structure was created to tell the city’s story and its lost identity. This new approach to celebration reaffirms the heritage and highlights historical aspects that are often forgotten.
Chiayi Wood: A Legacy Still Present
Chiayi still hosts more than 6,000 historic wooden buildings, remnants of an era when the city thrived thanks to forests and wood-related craftsmanship. Yet, most residents have lost touch with this heritage, making such temporary projects an opportunity to revive awareness of the city’s history.
The “Wooden Wonders” Pavilion and the Urban Spatial Experience
The “Wooden Wonders” pavilion is located directly in front of the city hall and has been described by the architects as an “urban living room,” a description that fits perfectly.
Creating a Space That Balances Privacy and Public Life
The structure features a design that wraps around a central courtyard, creating a space that is both intimate for the individual and welcoming to visitors at the same time. This area provides a sense of comfort and belonging, allowing people to interact naturally and informally, as if they were in their own living room, yet in the heart of the city.
Architecture as a Medium for Personal Narrative
The architectural experience here can be likened to sitting next to someone in a chair and listening to the story of their life. The structure does more than serve a spatial function; it opens the door to human stories and experiences, transforming architecture into a medium for cultural and social communication.
Design as an Architectural Investigation
What distinguishes this project is the approach taken by MVRDV in handling the design. Instead of imposing their familiar architectural style, the team assumed the role of an architectural investigator, carefully studying the existing wooden buildings in the city to understand the local architectural DNA.
Uncovering Historical Depth and Diversity
Through this study, the architects discovered a rich mix of details:
- Slanted cuts that highlight street corners and add dynamism to the urban scene.
- Roofs adorned with upper lines featuring delicate decorative touches.
- Interweaving of different time periods and influences, reflecting Chiayi’s rich architectural diversity.
Organic Harmony with Heritage
These elements were used as the foundation for designing the structure surrounding the pavilion, making the new building appear as if it naturally grew from Chiayi’s architectural family tree. This approach reflects the design’s ability to communicate with local history and revive the city’s architectural identity in an innovative and harmonious way.
An Internal Journey Through the History of Wood
Inside the pavilion, the exhibition takes visitors on a comprehensive journey through the past, present, and future of wood. The doors are painted in soft pastel colors, adding a calm and varied touch to the visitor’s experience, contrary to what one might expect from a straightforward architectural exhibition.
Exploring Forests and Craftsmanship
The displays include a forest-inspired area where visitors can learn how wood grows and is harvested, alongside a “workshop” that celebrates the traditional craftsmanship that historically defined the region’s identity.
Blending Heritage with Global Innovation
The exhibition does not focus solely on the past; it also connects Chiayi with global leaders in the timber industry, such as Norway and New Zealand. Through this comparison, the exhibition demonstrates how engineered wood can bridge traditional culture and contemporary construction, giving visitors a deeper understanding of wood’s transformative potential in modern architecture.
Project Timing and Environmental Significance
The timing of this project could not be more fitting. Jacob van Rijs, co-founder of MVRDV, explains that the story of wood in Chiayi reflects a global shift in the way we think about building materials.
From Traditional Material to Sustainable Innovation
In the past, wood was a practical and readily available material, but it later came to be seen as “old-fashioned” as concrete and steel dominated construction. Yet, the climate crisis has reversed this equation: wood can store carbon, while concrete and steel release large amounts into the atmosphere.
Wood as the Future of Construction
With the development of engineered wood technologies over decades, wood today is no longer just a nostalgic material; it has become a key element in sustainable construction and the architectural future. This new approach reflects how heritage and innovation can converge to address the challenges of the modern era.
Local Context and the Importance of Sustainability Discussions
In Taiwan, these discussions carry added weight. Many people view wood as less reliable or of lower reputation compared to modern materials, and seismic regulations make working with existing buildings even more challenging. Therefore, the “Wooden Wonders” pavilion does more than celebrate heritage; it also presents a bold argument for sustainability, demonstrating what is possible when traditional materials are reconsidered with an innovative perspective.
Participatory Architecture and Encouraging Dialogue
The two-story main hall on the northern side transforms this vision into a practical reality. Visitors can contribute their ideas on the development of urban Chiayi and its future potential as Taiwan’s “wood capital.” Here, participatory architecture shines at its best: a space that does not merely speak to people but invites them to engage in a dialogue about their city’s future, fostering collective awareness and encouraging sustainable thinking.
Balancing Privacy and Public Life
What distinguishes the “Wooden Wonders” pavilion is its ability to combine privacy and public engagement simultaneously. It is deeply rooted in Chiayi’s specific history and local architecture, giving visitors a sense of connection to the place and its past.
Architecture as a Medium for Sustainable Dialogue
Yet, the project carries a broader message. It demonstrates how cities can honor their past while building a more sustainable future, and how materials once underestimated can become solutions to our most pressing challenges. It also highlights the vital role of thoughtful design in creating spaces for community and dialogue, transforming architecture from a mere location into a comprehensive educational and cultural experience.
Temporary Messages and Their Lasting Impact
The pavilion is only open until December 28, making it a fleeting moment in the city’s long history. Yet, this temporariness may be part of its strength.
Architecture as Inspiration
Sometimes the most powerful messages are temporary, present just long enough to remind us of what we have forgotten and to inspire us to imagine what comes next. In this way, the project becomes a tool for reflection and urban inspiration, rather than merely a temporary visual experience.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
Although the “Wooden Wonders” pavilion offers an innovative architectural experience that connects local heritage with sustainability and provides visitors with the opportunity to engage with the city’s history and wooden materials, the project remains temporary and raises several questions regarding continuity and the real functions of architecture in daily life.
The focus on exhibition elements and temporary aesthetics may limit the community’s long-term benefit from the spaces. Additionally, reproducing heritage through a new structure may not accurately reflect the city’s historical complexity and risks oversimplifying its architectural identity. Moreover, the relationship between design and the practical needs of residents remains limited, as the project does not address challenges associated with permanent use, such as wood maintenance or compliance with seismic regulations.
On the other hand, this type of project can be inspiring as a tool for temporary educational experiences that encourage reflection on reusing traditional materials and innovating sustainable solutions. It is crucial, however, to explore the potential for transforming such experiences into long-term programs that foster deeper and more sustained architectural awareness.
