Weiwuying Arts Center

Weiwuying opened in 2018 on a former military ground, designed by Francine Houben of Mecanoo, and its form came from the banyan trees on the site: a single undulating roof of 35,000 square metres built from 4,500 aluminium panels, with the ground beneath it left open as a covered public space called the Banyan Plaza. Four halls sit under it, including a concert hall with a vineyard-style auditorium. It is usually described as the largest performing arts centre in the world under a single roof.

Highlights

• The single roof - an undulating shell of 35,000 square metres in 4,500 aluminium panels.
• The Banyan Plaza - the open covered ground beneath, free to walk through at any hour.
• The concert hall - a vineyard-style auditorium with a large pipe organ.
• The park - the surrounding metropolitan park on the former military ground.

When to go

Year round; the public areas are open daily and the plaza is used around the clock. Performances run through the season. Evenings are when the building is at its best.

Practical notes

The auditoriums are only seen with a ticket or on a booked tour. The single-roof superlative depends on how you measure and is a marketing line as much as a fact. The building is large and the walk from the metro is long.

Nearby

Central Kaohsiung is northwest, and the Lotus Pond is north.

Key facts