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Kaohsiung,Taiwan stadium designed by Toyo Ito opens this week for World Games...we're talkintravel.
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photos by Rich Carlson
On April 15, 2008, I donned a hard hat to attend news conference at the Kaohsiung Stadium construction site in Taiwan along with 19 other US journalists. This week it opens to the public for the first time
Like most great ideas, in retrospect it seems obvious…build a “green” stadium to preserve the environment and reduce costs—but no one has done it until now. Kaohsiung, Taiwan, host of the 2009 World Games, says their Main Stadium, with a seating capacity of 55,000, is the first large scale eco-venue with self-powered through solar-electrical generation.
Charles Lin, director of the Bureau of Public Works in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, said the stadium's solar energy panels will make the venue self-sufficient in electricity needs. The panels, along with nine green features, make the Stadium the first environmental eco-stadium in the history of The World Games. Kaohsiung, the second largest city in Taiwan, after Taipei, has an average of 2,282 hours of sun per year, averaging 5.6 hours daily. If the solar energy plates receive enough sunlight, they will be able to provide 80% of the electricity needs during the operation of the stadium and 100% during the remaining time. Any surplus electricity generated could be sold says Lin.
It’s a wake up call to Western architects who build closed domed stadiums without solar panels. With the political shift toward alternative energy sources, getting funding for a stadium, arena, or convention center can be easier with grants used for solar panel installation, light emitting diodes, water reclamation systems and trash recycling. It also gives the public more reason to support a new facility (should a bond measure need to be passed by taxpayers) since they too are becoming more ecologically aware.
Stephanie Graham of the International Sports Architect firm HOK agrees. “This Stadium confirms what we are also experiencing in the States. Stadia, arenas and ballparks are often publicity owned or funded facilities service privately owned teams. Public –private partnerships are often key to the success of those projects. We often see large event centers as the focal point of larger urban redevelopment programs that revitalize cities. When neighboring properties resist the developments, providing green space for community use and recreation can ease the acceptance.”
Renowned architect Toyo Ito from Japan won an international contest to design the Stadium. Designboom (Europe’s trendy ‘on line’ design magazine), considers him “one of the worlds most innovative and influential architects.” His firm has designed VivoCity, the largest shopping center at the Harbourfront Center in Singapore, with over 1.5 million square feet of commercial and office space. His latest project, the first in the U.S., is designing the new Berkley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, both part of the University of California Berkley, with groundbreaking scheduled for next year.
In Kaohsiung Ito constructed the Stadium around the existing forest rather than clearing the land. Feng Shui methods, the Chinese art of placement, played a key role in where to position the Stadium and leaving as much open space on each side of the facility for park land and an ecological pond. (In addition, check this Rich I think I read it-the Stadium’s center is natural grass that will be used as a park when events by locals when events are not taking place). The layout takes advantage of the cooling winds and places the stadium in a position to shade the majority of fans during a day’s peak sunny period. “I always insist on integrating architecture and nature,” says Ito. “When people come to the games I don’t want them to see a still building, but a bouncing dynamic architecture. It stimulates your imagination anyway.”
People have called it a floating stadium and also compared it to the flow of a river. “Some associate it (the Stadium) with a scarf, some a dragon,” says Ito. “To me, it is more of a snake than a dragon. A wavy snake body with broad front and narrow hind would be the most precise metaphor. Snakes aren’t my favorite animal but I am a snake according to the Chinese horoscope.”
The uneven spiral shaped roof presented special challenges to the engineers and contractors who had to install 10,000 solar panels. This unprecedented design had to undergo high tech analyses to make sure it would be safe, and although solar energy will save money in the long run, in the short term, Ito says it was so expensive to construct it would not have been possible without government support. (You still don’t say how much it costs though)
The projected annual surplus in energy can be sold to the local power company for approximately $151,000 U.S. The solar panel roof will produce 80% of the electricity in the nearby residential areas even when are no games according to Lin. Solar panels have a life expectancy of around 30 years, so with the stadium being self sufficient while an event is occurring and creating surplus energy on non-event days the long term benefits are tremendous. “Of course it’s worth the government investment!” Lin exclaimed.
With the world becoming more aware of the effects man has on the environment, the designers included many features that make it the most eco-friendly Stadium in the world. Some of these include rainwater retention and recycling, an ecological landscaping system prohibiting the use of pesticides, light emitting diodes with a sensory system, recycled construction materials, trash sorting in an underground treatment facility and solar panels. Lin believes that once the Stadium is up and running, it will serve as research model for architectural development and physics?? “Recycling energy has become the universal language for the world,” says Lin.
The entire Stadium is cutting edge, from its unique design to its eco-friendly qualities. Once in operation, the citizens of Kaohsiung hope it “puts them on the map,” changing its image from a working class port city to a high tech center of world trade, much as the Guggenheim museum did for Bilbao, Spain. For the past few yeas the city has also been developing its waterfront with the Love River cruise project and Inner-Kaohshiung Harbor ferry plan.” The government paid for the construction of the stadium and did not receive any funding from the World Games organization.
With the Stadium’s park-like setting, including native flora and fauna, walking trails, and ecological pond, residents, most of whom live in high rise condos or apartments, will use the green space as their backyard. Taiwanese citizens feel that parks are an extension of their home and with the excellent local transportation system extending routes to the stadium, it’s expected to draw locals year around for picnics, walks, softball games and a playground for children.
Construction of the stadium began on Thursday, January, 2007, and this Thursday is the official unveiling, for the start of The World Games. Under the umbrella of the Olympics, but a separate competition, the World Games include unusual sports such as flying disc, rugby, dragon boat racing, parachuting, rock climbing, boules, tug of war, and sumo wrestling and 13 other events.
Ting-Shan Chu with the World Games Organization says, “Ticketing prices for the World Games are still undergoing a marketing evaluation. Reluctantly I have to admit that the sport spectators’ behavior in Taiwan is quite different, so the tickets prices will be a lot of cheaper compared to other countries.” Spectator sports in Taiwan are typically not a major draw s coming up with price that will draw the most spectators can be difficult. (I did see one place that listed prices but on tape he didn’t give them)
They will make up some of that loss with a distribution deal to cover the World Games 2009. Public Television Services (PTS) paid NT$250,000,000 (roughly US$8.3Million), to broadcast the events.
After The World Games, July 16-26, 2009, the government will manage the Venue and hope to attract the World Soccer Cup, concerts and trade shows. Marketing officials are targeting names like the Rolling Stones, Celine Dion and Opera legends. “People are lining up to book events here,” says Ting-Shan Chu, the executive secretary to the CEO. “We’re creating an international green building standard that will raise awareness of environmental while promoting our city at the same time.” Kaohsiung, known primarily for its port, is the second largest city in Taiwan.
The Sports Affairs Council, a government entity, had planned to build the stadium before they bid for the World Games. “Sports and Tourism are the future opportunities for Taiwan,” says Lin. “Apart from the World Games, (the largest event ever held in Taiwan) we hope to host the World University Games in 2011.
It makes sense that an eco-stadium would be built in a country shaped like a leaf. When Portuguese sailors discovered Taiwan they called it Ilha Formosa, or “Beautiful Island,” and the government is working hard to earn that title once again..
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