Kaohsiung Marine Gateway, a proposal by Asymptote Architecture for the Kaohsiung Terminal Port Competition

This proposal is one of my favorite proposals for the Kaohsiung Marine Gateway project. Asymptote Architecture and Artech Architects were awarded a close second place finish.
Reiser + Umemoto was awarded the first place.

Asymptote was awarded a close second place finish for the Kaohsiung Marine Gateway project. The project proposes a 200 m long structure situated between two 14 story towers located at the cities newly developed harbor edge. Asymptote's proposal calls for a new urban intervention at the cities waterfront combining both cultural and commercial aspects with the port terminal functions the building is designed to house. The buildings technological envelope and architecture and is designed to be a striking and elegant addition to the quickly changing city of Kaohsiung and to act as a catalyst for unique and sustained urban development over the coming years and decades.

Kaohsiung Terminal Port, aerial view, situation, Photography originally appeared on cumbu

Asymptote's proposal proposed a highly efficient transport and public facility connecting the heart of Kaohsiung to the city's waterfront. The main idea was to invigorate and activate Kaohsiung's city edge and at the waterfront through vibrant open public spaces and facilities bringing a powerful and electric experience to the city 24 hours a day. This terminal is designed as a new state of the art transport interchange. it articulates public and private commercial facilities including exhibition and event event spaces for the population as well as for national and international visitors. Asymptote envisioned to transform the site from its industrial roots into a dynamic urban hub.
The terminal building accommodates the major programmatic elements associated with passenger travel. This structure is crackled and framed by two dynamic towers that together form a new gateway for the city.

Kaohsiung Terminal Port, Asymptote Architecture, Artech Architects and Artech Architects, proposal, 2010, © Asymptote Architecture

Illuminated by an ever-changing pattern of natural light, this 200m long structure is defined by the geometry of the curved ceiling. I particularly appreciate the complex and powerful geometry of this ceiling.

Night view of Kaohsiung Terminal Port, Asymptote Architecture and Artech Architects, Proposal, 2010, © Asymptote Architecture

This curvilinear building was planned to illuminate the city 24 hours a day, as you can see in the photography above.

Interior of the Kaohsiung Terminal Port, Asymptote Architecture and Artech Architects, proposal, 2010, © Asymptote Architecture

Interiors of the Kaohsiung Port Terminal, Asymptote Architecture and Artech Architects, Proposal, 2010, © Asymptote Architecture

Entry (day) of the Kaoshiung Port Terminal,  Asymptote Architecture and Artech Architects, proposal, 2010, © Asymptote Architecture

Entry (night) of the Kaohsiung Port Terminal, Asymptote Architecture and Artech Architects, proposal, 2010, © Asymptote Architecture

For further information check Asymptote Architecture's website.

Project: Kaohsiung Marine Gateway
Competition: Kaohsiung Port Terminal 2010
Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Architect: Asymporte Architecture — Hani Rashid & Lise Anne Couture; Artech Architects — Kris Yao
Client: Kaohsiung Harbor Bureau
Structural Engineer: Knippers Helbig
Size: 40,000 sq. m.
Date: 2010
Photographs: Courtesy of Asymptote Architecture; aerial view of the terminal port originally appeared on cumbu