TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The designers of National Taiwan University’s College of Liberal Arts won first prize in the 2024 Taiwan Architecture Awards on Wednesday (Nov. 6) after nearly 20 years of work on the building.
The National Architecture Association awarded Chien Architects & Associates, per CNA. The firm’s founder Chien Hsueh-yi (簡學義) received the award and dedicated it to the students and teachers of NTU for waiting so long for the building's completion.
Chien said he needed to overcome many issues during construction, including integrating his design with historic buildings. He said preliminary discussions for the project took five years and a further five years were spent resolving issues raised by different parties.
Chien also said the project was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “People may not have thought four NTU presidents would be present at the groundbreaking ceremony,” he quipped.
Judging panel convenor Chen Liang-chuan (陳良全) said the selection criteria for 2024 focused on environmental aspects. The more responsive buildings are to the environment the better, he said.
Chen added he admired Chien Architects & Associates' willpower to finish the building over 19 years.
The College of Liberal Arts building features two floors below ground and six above with a floor area of just over 3,000 square meters. The construction cost NT$1.16 billion (US$35.94 million), according to the Chien Architects & Associates website.
The National Architecture Association also granted a newcomer award to Lin Bo-yang Architects for designing Hsinchu’s Naluwan Assembly Hall. Three other firms tied for an excellence award for designing an office building, a museum space, and a school sports ground and parking lot.
The association also presented JJP Architects & Planners with an award for the Chung Yuan Christian University Chang Ching Yu Memorial Library which was completed in 1985. The award was created to celebrate the association’s 25th year of granting awards and to recognize buildings with verified design concepts.
JJP Architects & Planners founder Pan Chi (潘冀) said he was happy to accept the award knowing the building still fit in with its surroundings. He said he hopes people can pay more attention to the relationship between buildings and the environment.
"If this occurs, there will be hope for Taiwan's architecture and cities," he said.
