Kaohsiung Port and Cruise Service Center

An architectural experiment on how three-dimensional urbanism can amplify pedestrian traffic through a waterfront placement of tumbling, wave-like volumes is on the rise along the waters of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Derived from the winning design of New York-based firm Reiser + Umemoto Architecture, Kaohsiung Port and Cruise Service Center is a hybrid of a port service center and a cruise ship terminal that highlights its distinct lateral positioning relative to the city grid.

A poetic undulation where the tower’s colossal height is balanced by multiple, horizontally-flowing tail ends define the building’s distinct massing. A space frame made from long-span, nested steel pipes molded the building exterior. Taking a closer look at these frames unfolds an array of cladding panels sandwiching the entire frame – eventually forming a useable cavity space.

Its undulating, horizontal features showcase slim glazed slits at each end, following the building’s unpredictable curves. These horizontal waves eventually merge at the center, where it rises to form a leaning tower at its opposite end.

Inside, the Main Hall is pragmatically divided into three partitions – each showcasing a different itinerary for maritime travel. Whereas, concourses are oriented parallel to the immediate waters to capitalize on the captivating visual interface between the land and the water. By vertically separating its functions into different categories for travelers, port businesses, and the public, the operational efficiency of its multi-faceted functions were maintained – all the while highlighting the natural synergy between its mixed natures.

Apart from its distinct, curvilinear form, an essential component of the project’s vitality is the connection between its proposed public space and the water’s edge. Hence, an elevated boardwalk that seamlessly runs along the waterfront was integrated into the landscape, further embracing the existing public pedestrian traffic. This elevated boardwalk is designed to offer direct links between various arts and retail districts that surround the waterfront – which also includes the new Pop Music Center. Meanwhile, its cruise and ferry operations are discreetly placed below the public spaces, securing a safe and organized space for arriving and departing passengers.

With an eye for directing its functionally-separated flows into a unifying experience, the Kaohsiung Port and Cruise Service Center exudes an aura of energy and dynamism – symbolizing the maritime role of ferries and cruise terminals in economic viability.