The Taichung City Government's Urban Development Bureau's Shalu Archive Building public art project won a Silver Award in the Sculpture Design category at the 2024 MUSE Design Awards in the U.S., bringing further international recognition to Taichung's urban aesthetics.
Urban Development Bureau Director Lee Cheng-Wei noted that the archive building, as a vital repository of architectural records, gains an added layer of cultural aesthetics through public art. Director Lee expressed his gratitude to the artists who support participation in international art awards, inviting citizens to visit and admire this internationally recognized artwork at No. 625 Zhongshan Road, Shalu District.
The architectural work incorporates silhouette elements of major Taichung landmarks, including Daxueshan, Gaomei Wetlands, Taichung Park, and the National Taichung Theater (Photo / Courtesy of Taichung City Government Website)
The Urban Development Bureau emphasized that urban public safety remains the government's top priority. As Taichung has become Taiwan’s second-largest city, the number of buildings has rapidly increased. In 2023, Taichung led the six major municipalities in terms of approved construction permits and floor area. To safely store these important architectural records, the Shalu Archive Building was constructed and launched in 2021 in Shalu District, serving as a secure archive for building blueprints and data.
Artist Chen Kaisen expressed his gratitude to the city government for this opportunity and shared his joy with the citizens. The Shalu Archive Building meets the baseline standards of archive facilities and has earned a Green Building Label. The public artwork, created by Chen, showcases Taichung’s unique landscape and urban architecture through a mural-like style, reflecting the city's characteristics.
The work incorporates silhouettes of significant Taichung landmarks, including Daxueshan, Gaomei Wetlands, Taichung Park, and the National Taichung Theater. It also uses solar-powered LED lights to express the themes of renewable energy and resource reuse, embodying the ESG principles of a shared, sustainable future and creating a striking city skyline both day and night.
