Located in the vibrant Shilin district of Taipei, the Taipei Performing Arts Center represents a new vision of architecture dedicated to contemporary performing arts. Designed by OMA – Office for Metropolitan Architecture, the cultural center stands out for its innovative and highly iconic configuration: three independent theaters connected to a suspended central cube housing stages, backstage areas, and shared spaces, creating new theatrical and performance possibilities.

With a total area of approximately 59,000 square meters, the Taipei Performing Arts Center was conceived as a flexible space open to the city, fostering new relationships between audiences, artists, and architecture. The building houses the 1,500-seat Grand Theater, the 800-seat Globe Playhouse with its distinctive spherical form, and the Blue Box Theatre dedicated to experimental performances.

Through its Custom Interiors Business Unit, Poltrona Frau contributed to the project by manufacturing the 800 seats for the Globe Playhouse and the 1,500 seats for the Grand Theater. The seating was designed to integrate seamlessly with the architectural identity of both venues, ensuring ergonomic comfort, acoustic quality, and high technical performance in spaces intended to host international-level performances, concerts, and multidisciplinary productions.

In the Globe Playhouse, the unique spatial configuration between the spherical volume and the central cube creates a new relationship between stage and audience, making the seating an integral part of the theater’s immersive experience. In the Grand Theater, the project develops a more monumental and versatile configuration designed to accommodate different forms of contemporary performance. In both venues, Poltrona Frau’s contribution addresses functional and architectural requirements through bespoke solutions that combine technical innovation, design precision, and artisanal craftsmanship.

The Taipei Performing Arts Center project confirms the role of Poltrona Frau Custom Interiors as an international partner in the design and production of bespoke seating for theaters, auditoriums, and cultural institutions of global significance. This collaboration demonstrates the brand’s ability to engage with highly experimental and innovative architecture, contributing to the creation of new spaces dedicated to contemporary culture.

Images: © Shephotoerd Co. Photography, courtesy of OMA