The beam-raising ceremony for “Children’s Forest of Books, Taichung 「童書之森・台中」” personally designed by internationally renowned architect Tadao Ando (安藤忠雄), was held  on  May 15th 2026, marking a new milestone in the project’s construction. This highly anticipated children’s library is not only the first overseas East Asian location in Ando’s “Children’s Forest of Books” series outside Japan, but also embodies the city’s deep commitment to reading and cultural education for future generations.

Representing Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, Taichung City Government Secretary-General Chung-Tien Huang(秘書長黃崇典) attended the ceremony alongside distinguished guests from various sectors, witnessing the gradual realization of this important cultural landmark that integrates architectural aesthetics with the spirit of reading.

Secretary-General Huang noted that “Children’s Forest of Books, Taichung” originated from Tadao Ando’s long-standing dedication to children’s reading. Through architecture, the project responds to children’s imagination and needs, transforming reading from a static activity into an exploratory journey that interacts with space and engages with the world. Today’s beam-raising ceremony signifies not only progress in construction, but also Taichung’s determination to advance world-class reading infrastructure for children and steadily bring the city’s cultural vision to life.

The Taichung City Cultural Affairs Bureau explained that the library is located within Maple Garden and draws inspiration from the concept of “an egg incubating the future.” The design features an oval-shaped structure enveloped by forest greenery. To faithfully realize Tadao Ando’s signature exposed concrete architectural style, the construction team specially created a full-scale 1:1 wall prototype to ensure the highest quality workmanship and fully execute the architect’s design vision.

In addition, more than one hundred trees will be planted around the library. Members of the architectural team personally traveled through central and southern Taiwan to select the trees, including three century-old camphor trees shaped by time and nature. In the future, children will be able to read amid intertwining greenery and the fragrance of books, with nature serving as their gentlest companion while adding a new ecological and cultural reading space to the city.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau noted that the main structural construction of “Children’s Forest of Books, Taichung” is expected to be completed by the end of November this year, followed by interior finishing work and operational planning for its opening. In recent years, Taichung has continued to deepen its investment in reading infrastructure—from improving library environments and creating diverse reading spaces to promoting innovative services that bring reading into every corner of the city. The creation of “Children’s Forest of Books, Taichung” will not only provide a new venue for family reading, but also serve as an important platform for strengthening family bonds and inspiring creative learning.

The Taichung Public Library added that today’s beam-raising ceremony is not only a significant milestone for the construction project, but also symbolizes the city’s long-term commitment to education and culture for future generations. As the architectural form gradually takes shape, a dreamlike environment blending forests, light, shadow, and books is emerging. In the future, “Children’s Forest of Books, Taichung” is expected to become the reading wonderland children look forward to most, while allowing Taichung to shine with even greater warmth and cultural depth on the international stage.

Distinguished guests attending today’s blessing and beam-raising ceremony included Secretary-General Chung-Tien Huang(秘書長黃崇典); Cultural Affairs Bureau Director Chia-Chun Chen(文化局長陳佳君); Construction Bureau Director Da-Tian Chen(建設局長陳大田); Deputy Cultural Affairs Bureau Director Chun-Fu Shih(文化局副局長施純福);  Taichung Public Library Director Hui-Chun Tseng(臺中市立圖書館曾惠君館長).