Taichung, Taiwan — December 13 — Taichung officially unveiled its newest cultural landmark, the Taichung Green Museumbrary, on December 13, signaling a major milestone in the city’s cultural development. Designed by renowned Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA, the Green Museumbrary brings together a municipal art museum and a central public library in a single, integrated complex.

The opening ceremony was attended by Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen(盧秀燕市長), Deputy Minister of Culture Lee Ching-hui(文化部李靜慧政務次長), the architects of SANAA, and distinguished guests from the international art, architecture, and cultural communities. The event, themed  “Twin Museums United, Blooming in All Directions” (「雙館共啟．八方併綻」)， symbolized the simultaneous launch of the Taichung Museum of Art and the Taichung Public Library Main Branch, emphasizing openness, integration, and global engagement.

Mayor Lu described the Green Museumbrary as a new calling card for Taichung, noting that the project addresses long-standing gaps in the city’s cultural infrastructure. Prior to this opening, Taichung was one of the few major cities in Taiwan without a municipal art museum or a central city library. “This landmark not only completes an important chapter of urban construction, but also propels Taichung toward its next cultural milestone,” Mayor Lu said.

Conceived as a cultural hub where art, knowledge, and public life intersect, the Green Museumbrary dissolves the traditional boundaries between museums and libraries. The Taichung Museum of Art positions itself as an interdisciplinary platform connecting contemporary art with urban life and public issues, while supporting local creation and fostering international exchange. The library introduces innovative, age-inclusive spatial planning and smart services, aiming to cultivate a citywide reading culture and lifelong learning environment.

The museum’s inaugural exhibition, “An Invitation to the In-Between,” (「萬物的邀約」)is co-curated by curators from Taiwan and abroad. Drawing on the transformation of the former Shui-Nan Airport into Taichung Central Park, the exhibition explores the evolving relationship between the city and nature through five thematic sections. Featuring works by more than 70 artists from over 20 countries, the exhibition spans video, painting, sculpture, archives, and artists’ books.

Meanwhile, the Taichung City Library Main Branch presents its opening exhibition, “Index of the World,” (「世界的索引」) which reflects the library’s role as an urban encyclopedia. The exhibition showcases rare eighteenth-century encyclopedias alongside significant artifacts from leading Taiwanese institutions, offering insight into humanity’s historical pursuit of knowledge.

Following its opening to the public on the afternoon of December 13, the Green Museumbrary launched a week-long program of performances, exhibitions, guided tours, talks, and public events. Cultural spaces within the complex, including Pon Ding and Pharos Coffee (複合藝文空間朋丁與 Pharos Coffee), also opened, further enriching the site as a destination for art, reading, and everyday cultural experiences.

With its visionary architecture and integrated cultural mission, the Taichung Green Museumbrary positions the city as an emerging hub for contemporary culture and international exchange in East Asia.