National Taichung Theater

An amazing communion of architectural
aesthetics, art and life

If Taiwan is a treasure-filled museum, the National Taichung Theater (NTT) can be described as Joan Miro’s “Venus” at the Louvre, displaying a power and beauty that transcends space and time. Confirming this status is the fact that over five million people have visited this new Taiwan landmark since it opened in September, 2016.

Designed by world-renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito and his team, NTT stands among the world’s new top nine architectural landmarks. Its natural-design concept uses 58 curved wall units, giant windows and glass walls that allow plenty of natural light into the interior. The cave-like ambiance does not feel oppressive but instead offers a softness in its curved walls. This surrounds three main performance venues able to accommodate a wide variety of events–a 2,007-seat grand theater, 800-seat theater and 200-seat black box (amphitheater)–plus a rooftop garden with a performance stage. Stepping into this architectural masterpiece gives you the simultaneous sensation of being in avant-garde surroundings that still exude the ambiance of a primitive cave, a bit like traveling back in time. The eye-opening interior perspectives entice visitors to explore every nook and corner. Natural light from various directions warms up the cool concrete walls and high ceilings, while various sounds fills the air, creating a stereoscopic effect and subtle sense of being in a forest. Looking out the theater’s windows at night onto views of the surrounding Charlotte Park and lights of the city, glowing like stars, is another unforgettable experience.

NTT hosts over 300 shows per year, serving as a central Taiwan gateway for international performing arts, providing professional software, hardware and technical services for local domestic and international performers, and offering local residents with high-quality auditory and visual enjoyment. The theater also works to fulfill a mission of becoming a part of local residents’ lives. This is achieved by inviting people to enjoy its outdoor theater and various performance documentaries, through its “Theater Salon” series of lectures and courses, and via cooperation with businesses to promote art education with the goal of expanding knowledge of the arts to schools, remote areas and other locations. Such efforts put NTT at the forefront of efforts to develop a deeper artistic environment.

Since June, 2019, NTT has offered guide services to visitors (including multi-language and sign language guides–see official website for more details), leading them on an in-depth experience of the theater and its aesthetics. Besides its three performance spaces, there are commercial areas designed by NTT and VVG, showcasing dozens of international design brands and allowing visitors to relax, browse and shop. There are also food and beverage venues on the building’s first, fifth and sixth floors, allowing you personal enjoyment of a cup of coffee, afternoon tea time, alcoholic beverage or social gathering with friends and relatives, surrounded by the wonders of this central Taiwan architectural jewel.

西屯區惠來路二段101號 / 101, HuiLai Rd, Sec 2, Xitun Dist
(04) 2551- 1777 (phone service hour: 10 am-8 pm)
開館時間 Hours: 週一休館/closed Mon
週日，週二至週四/Sun, Tue- Thu 11:30 am-9 pm
週五至週六及國定假日/Fri-Sat & national holidays 11:30 am-10 pm
售票／會員服務台、紀念品店 Ticket counter/service counter/souvenir shop: 11:30 am-8 pm
商場營業時間 Shops opening hours: 週日至週四/Sun-Thu 11:30 am-9 pm ；
週五至週六及國定假日/Fri-Sat & national holidays 11:30 am-10 pm
Official website: http://www.npac-ntt.org/index?

建築美學的極致-藝術與生活共融

若比喻寶島為充滿珍稀收藏的博物館，臺中國家歌劇院則有如同羅浮宮中「米羅的維納斯」，散發著超越時空的力與美。自2016年9月正式開幕以來，參訪人數超過500萬人次，成為來臺必訪的新地標。

建築。空間

有世界9大建築奇蹟之稱的「臺中國家歌劇院」，係日本當代建築師伊東豐雄（Ito Toyo）先生與團隊共同打造的藝術巨作。設計概念與初衷回歸自然，透過58個曲牆、落地玻璃窗與由孔洞引入自然光，將厚重水泥建築顯得備感輕盈柔媚，並塑造出有如樹屋與洞窟般，令人心醉的「壺中居」。其中，大劇院（2007席）、中劇院（796席）、與戶外圓形劇場（amphitheater）相連的小劇場（200席）與屋頂的空中花園，為不同類型的表演活動打造專業舞台空間。
走入這前衛卻又充滿原始洞窟感的建築，彷彿闖蕩到了異域時空，令人不自覺地睜大了眼，好奇地想仔細探索每個角落。白晝的自然光從不同角落灑入，挑高的室內空間與繚繞其中的聲音，微妙地創造出立體且飄渺的森林感。夜晚，透過落地窗外望，夏綠蒂公園與週邊高樓的燈光如繁星點綴，備感都市叢林的雍容。

藝術。生活

在這驚艷世界的藝術文化館落成後，經營管理與行銷推廣的工作，則交由國家表演藝術中心團隊接手。臺中國家歌劇院每年舉辦三百場以上的售票演出，為中臺灣開啟一扇與國際表演藝術接軌的大門，提供國內外表演者專業的軟、硬體技術服務，造福在地觀眾的視聽享受。但國家歌劇院所背負的使命不止於此，而更希望能深入市民的生活；透過「NTT放映室」，臺中歌劇院邀請民眾到戶外劇場席草地而坐，免費欣賞各種演出的紀錄影片；另推出「歌劇院沙龍」系列精彩講座與課程，及與企業合作的「開門計畫」與「藝起進劇場」等推廣藝術教育，盼將觸角延伸至校園、偏鄉與更多人的生活，讓這座歌劇院成為文藝花園養成的有力推手。
自2019年6月起，國家歌劇院固定提供劇場導覽服務（亦貼心的設至多國語言及手語導覽服務，詳情請參考官網），帶民眾體驗劇場與建築美學的深度巡禮。而除了3個劇場之外，歌劇院與「VVG好樣」共同設計的商業空間中，有數十家不同的在地與國際設計品牌進駐，可以慢慢逛、仔細掏寶。逛累了，在1樓有VVG LABO好樣度量衡，可以點杯咖啡、茶飲、輕食或甜點，5樓VVG Food Play好樣食藝提供精緻的午、晚餐及下午茶，適合三五好友或家人用餐聚會，歌劇院不分晴雨晝夜，隨餐點或飲品，皆附贈中臺灣最美的建築風景。