Pop music cluster
On an expansive site near the Kunyang metro station, there now proudly stand three buildings of novel, futuristic design: this is the Taipei Music Center (TMC). What first catches the eye is a round building that glitters in the sunlight. The jagged outline of its roof is like a series of mountain ridges, giving the viewer a different impression when seen from different angles: this is the Concert Hall. Across from it stands a six-story cuboid structure known as the Cultural Cube. And finally there is an elongated building like a multifaceted jewel—the Creative Hub—its architecture mirroring its diverse content. Linked by pedestrian bridges, the three buildings form a ring-shaped cluster where the popular music and culture industry can be nurtured. “Many venues are built to be multifunctional, but the TMC was designed with a single goal in mind, which is something of a world first,” says Ding Dulan (known as Baboo), who as director of the TMC preparatory committee has been responsible for developing the center’s facilities and systems over the past three years.
“I come from the music world, and I want to be able to contribute all I can to popular music.” Lu Sheng-fei, who became the TMC’s CEO in October 2020, recognizes that this is a difficult job with a long road ahead, so he has adopted a flexible approach and is trying not to be overly ambitious. From being named Best Musician and Producer of the Best Album at the Golden Indie Music Awards to winning a Golden Melody Award for Best Album (Instrumental Category) and a Golden Horse Award, Lu has played a variety of roles, but has been persistent in always moving forward in his music career.
“Because the center has a specified purpose, we are better able to design the performance spaces.” From his perspective as a music professional, Lu rigorously scrutinizes the suitability of each aspect of the facilities. “The Concert Hall and the other small and medium-sized performance spaces are demonstration venues for cutting-edge technology.” Defined by its role as a leader in future technology trends, the TMC’s facilities are all built around a benchmark of future development. “We must stay on the cutting edge and keep up with global trends.”
Beautiful sets and a wonderful sound system are derived from the sophisticated backstage facilities. When you walk into the vast backstage space of the Concert Hall, you find hidden there the TMC’s “four treasures,” which enable performers to express completely novel concepts and give audiences an unforgettable feast for the eyes and ears.
At 16 meters wide and ten meters high, the TMC’s soundproof door is the largest in Taiwan. This scientifically tested piece of cutting-edge equipment offers superb sound insulation, meeting world-class standards. And its shock-resistant structure leaves it unaffected by the vibrations produced by an excited audience jumping about.
The sophisticated L-Acoustics K2 sound system, designed specifically for the Concert Hall, makes possible the finest in sound projection and range and gives audience members in different parts of the hall the highest possible sound quality. The robust “mother truss” stage rigging system can lower equipment directly down to the level of the first floor, reducing the number of tasks that workers have to do on catwalks. There is also a computer-controlled, electrically powered segmented elevator stage capable of a height difference of nearly three stories and with a load capacity of 750 kilograms per square meter; not only is it environmentally friendly, it reduces the time required for setting up the stage for performances.
The Concert Hall, with five stories above ground and three below, provides audience seating on three stories, designed for optimal comfort and vision. It has a maximum audience capacity of 6000 people.
As part of the Concert Hall’s visual design, specific colors are used to distinguish entranceways on each floor. The color used for the first floor is blue-green, with orange for the second floor, blue for the third, and yellow for the fourth. “We hope to give every person who enters the Concert Hall the most refreshing sensory experience possible.” By handling the subtleties with care, the TMC hopes to create an intimate space for the enjoyment of music.