The new Kaohsiung Marine Gateway Terminal designed by Asymptote
is a new state of the art transportation interchange, an urban
destination with both terminal and public facilities including
exhibition and event spaces for the people of Kaohsiung as well as for
national and international visitors. The project transforms the site
from its industrial roots into a dynamic urban hub and a global gateway
that bring a powerful and electric experience to the city 24 hours a
day. The port terminal as envisioned by Asymptote is designed to
invigorate and activate Kaohsiung’s city edge at the water. The port
terminal extends the urban realm from the center of Kaohsiung to the
city’s waterfront and connects this new urban space with the vitality of
the future Pop Music Center and other public recreational and
commercial activities that are to be located along the planned park at
water’s edge.
Key components of Asymptote’s design are two elegant towers, a
sculptural terminal hall that is framed and hovers in an elevated
position between them, and a plinth below that connects the towers and
accommodates a new public urban space. This open plaza is an articulated
yet continuous public space that is located at the very intersection of
circulation paths that seamlessly draw the urban space of Kaohsiung
into the heart of the project through to the water’s edge and back
towards the city. These provide access to a number of important public
spaces and programs as well as contribute to the dramatic entry sequence
to the port facilities. This intertwining of public and private access
as well as programming creates an activated public realm, providing a
unique experience to ship passengers and city dwellers alike. The curved
form of the terminal hall sits delicately yet majestically above the
large open plaza activated by the flow of people moving back and forth
between the harbor and the city. From the city, the terminal forms an
urban scaled aperture that frames the harbor and water beyond. The
sculpted underside of the floating building provides shelter to the
urban space from the strong sun and seasonal rains while at night it
provides dramatic illumination for the ongoing public activities, events
and celebrations.
The interior of the terminal building provides a spectacular
culmination; a soaring vertical space naturally lit from above leads up
to the large clear span of the terminal hall with sweeping panoramas of
the City and the Kaohsiung skyline on one side and of the Sea, the sky
and the horizon on the other. These are experienced within a dramatic
space defined by the sophisticated geometry of the curved shell roof and
the lightweight sculptural panels suspended below where the geometric
pattern of the assembly creates ever-changing spatial and light effects,
celebrating the events of both arrival and departure.
Источник: http://www.evolo.us/architecture/the-circle-at-zurich-airport-by-asymptote-architecture/ | 
