TAICHUNG (Taiwan News) — CMP Inspiration Museum (勤美術館), designed by acclaimed Japanese architect Kuma Kengo, opened in Taichung in December 2024, featuring an inaugural exhibition by nendo, a globally renowned Japanese design studio known for its minimalist and conceptual approach to design.
After six years of planning and construction, the museum has established itself as a new cultural landmark in Taichung’s artistic landscape.
Architectural Design
Kuma’s 410-ping (1,355 square meters) undulating roof evokes the image of "lifted earth," creating a distinctive silhouette. The structure blends Japanese aesthetic principles with Taiwanese construction expertise, replacing traditional reinforced concrete with a steel framework for greater visual lightness, flexibility, and lower carbon emissions.
One of the most striking features is the sunken green roof, which integrates seamlessly with the surrounding environment. The eaves transform into natural steps, an approach rarely seen in Taiwan’s landscape architecture.
In harmony with the nearby Calligraphy Greenway (草悟道), the building features 1,282 custom wooden louvers, enhancing its warmth and openness. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows dissolve boundaries between interior and exterior spaces, while inside, wooden panels, stone walls, and undulating ceiling beams create a dynamic, nature-inspired atmosphere.
Interactive Exhibits
CMP Inspiration commissioned three Taiwanese design teams to create distinctive visual elements. Among them, googoods design reimagines masterpieces by Dali, Munch, and Millet into interactive installations under the theme "Subverting Masterpieces."
Throughout the museum, ten stone pedestals inspired by classical sculptures like "The Discus Thrower" and "The Thinker" are intentionally designed as incomplete, inviting visitors to become part of the artwork by striking poses.
Inaugural Exhibition: Outlines In Between
Curated by nendo, founded by designer Sato Oki, the exhibition explores five themes: rain, clouds, paper, lines, and stone. The lowercase spelling reflects the studio’s branding style, emphasizing a sense of fluidity and approachability in its design philosophy.
A highlight is nendo’s "softer than stone" furniture series, which challenges conventional perceptions of stone through innovative design. Other standout works include:
- "Clustered Clouds" series, previously showcased at Milan Design Week.
- "50 Manga Chairs" series, which transforms 2D comic elements into functional furniture.
- "Rain Bottle" series, which captures 20 distinct rain conditions inspired by Japanese kanji descriptions of precipitation, from the misty "sha" to sleet-like "hyo", offering a poetic nod to Taiwan’s rainy winters.
- The Taiwan debut of nendo’s "Pokémon Mosaic" collaboration, which transforms beloved characters into refined home accessories.
The exhibition runs through June 1, with selected pieces becoming permanent interactive installations.
CMP Inspiration opens in Central Taiwan. (Taiwan News, Lyla Liu video)
