Bai Sha Wan Beach and Visitor Centre

Taipei, China

Visitor Centers

Architects: Wang Weijen Architecture

Location: Bai Sha Wan Beach, Taipei, China
Year: 2007
Client: 台湾交通部观光局北海岸及观音山国家风景区管理处
Architecture Design Partner: Northern. Space Design

The design of Bai Sha Wan Beach and Visitor Centre responses to the strong wind and sand in winter and the intense sunlight in summer. The architecture works with the topography and changes the traditional binary relationship between landscape and architecture. It is expected that the architecture could act like trees and rocks which integrate with the landscape. The existing building and the new visitor center are connected by slanted slabs, and visitors could walk along the landscape terrain to the grassland on the rooftop. These folded slabs also reflect the indoor activities, the changing shadow profile as well as the waterfront landscape. The L-shaped building mass is arranged according to the contour and the retaining walls, creating an open plaza in front facing the sea. The undulating rooftop not only integrated with the topography, the various-sized tilted slabs at the north also brings natural sunlight into the interior spaces. These large pieces of roof slabs also provide shading for the naturally ventilated semi-outdoor spaces where visitors’ activities take place. Walking from the carpark behind, across a framed view entrance, and passing the shaded walkway along the building to the beach in front, visitors can experience a fascinating scenery.