A garden-like museum, inserted at the foot of a high-rise building in Taichung, Taiwan, is one of several unique museums recently constructed recently in the country. This new green museum sits on a site facing Calligraphy Greenway, the center of Taichung City’s green network where public and private development is seamlessly connected through greenery in the middle of the city. Within this space, noted Tokyo-based architectural firm Studio Kengo Kuma and Associates created this stunning and unique museum, opened in 2024.

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CMP Inspiration Museum is buried underground to keep the eaves low and enhance the unique feeling of the building. By integrating the roof with the ground, the roof space is open to the city as a public space for various events and concerts. Outside, at ground level, CMP is wrapped around a curving staircase, which transitions to a tiered seating area on the roof.

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In order to cover the roof with different types of plants, the designers achieved a green roof using soil; the thickness of the roof tip was eliminated; and ivy was extended to the caves, creating an eave detail that blurs the boundary between architecture and nature. To keep the building load as light as possible, a simple structure of half-inch, thick polygonal steel base plates supported by steel post and beams was adopted to achieve a twisted roof surface.

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By connecting the underground exhibition space with ground level, the builders created a shadowy cave-like space with a louvered ceiling that reflects the twisted shape of the roof, pleated walls and a spiral staircase. By creating an organic exhibition space that differs from an abstract white cube, the architects brought nature into the city in terms of scenery and for a wonderful visitor experience.