For the past 74 years, the Amis’ Madang tribe has lacked its own gathering place and had to use nearby school playgrounds or farmland for ceremonies, affecting cultural preservation. To address this, Taitung County Government has allocated park land to build a new gathering place that meets practical needs and highlights Amis cultural features.
Global Design & Architecture Design Awards 2024
Third Award | Cultural (built)
Project Name: Matang Tribal Gathering Place
Category: Cultural (Built)
Studio Name: multitude
Design Team: Chen, Yu-Hsiu
Area: Taiwan, Taitung city
Year: 2024
Location: Taiwan, Taitung city
Consultants: Jin-Zuo Construction Co., Ltd.
Photography Credits: Lian,Jian-Cheng
Render Credits: Chen, Yu-Hsiu
Other Credits: Chen, Yu-Hsiu
To showcase Amis culture, the new building uses the red, black, and white colors commonly found in traditional Amis clothing.
The Amis society has a strict structure and believes the sun is the highest deity. During annual celebrations, the tribe forms a circle, holding hands to sing and dance. Reflecting this culture, the building is designed with an umbrella shape to match the circular dance and space. To honor the elders and the sun, the building’s corners are raised towards the sunrise and elders’ direction, creating a welcoming feel.
From a sustainable design perspective, recyclable steel ensures resource efficiency. The folded roof design uses temperature differences to create natural ventilation, keeping the interior cool. The umbrella-shaped space also improves sound reflection, enhancing the acoustics.
The building design features an umbrella-shaped roof supported by three sets of round steel pipes. This makes the material use more economical and helps distribute forces evenly during earthquakes and storms. The round steel pipes are designed as triangular trusses, which convert bending forces into smaller, less damaging axial forces. Additionally, the three support structures symbolize the three age groups from the early days of the Amis tribe.
The center of the building features totems of the sun and waves, symbolizing the Amis’ reverence for the sun and their identity as sea people. Surrounding it are totems representing the Amis, Madang tribe, and ancestral spirits, highlighting the gathering place’s identity and ownership.
