MVRDV has unveiled its proposal for a major museum in Taiwan, a design that came third as part of an international competition. Located in close proximity to Taipei, the country’s capital, as well as the national airport, the city of Taoyuan has expanded in size in recent years. As a new cultural institution, the Taoyuan Museum of Art seeks to give the region a sense of identity and character for its growing population.

MVRDV’s design for the 29,000 square meter museum, which was developed alongside JJP Architects & Planners and TOPOTEK1, is inspired by Taoyuan’s peach flower symbol. The masterplan for the vast complex includes a series of rooms that contain different aspects of the overall program. The museum, which is found within the pink (or cherry) zone, comprises of a series of human-scale buildings.

“Pathways can go in between and over to open up the program,” MVRDV explained. “By designing the programs in circular configurations, they avoid edges and one can easily go ‘around’, enlarging the accessibility. By overlaying these petal-like volumes, they create connections and nice shadows providing overhangs and shading. These flower-like figures appear and form a new identity for the park.”

Pink-tinted aluminium façades are employed throughout, giving an unmistakable character to the site. Meanwhile, roof terraces with cherry trees expand upon the green qualities of the site and the surrounding park. 

“Taoyuan Museum of Art and its surrounding landscape becomes a true cultural destination with a park that turns the area into a kind of cherry room for the city,” said MVRDV.

The competition was won by Joe Shih Architect, Riken Yamamoto and Field Shop.