-
Architects: J. J. Pan & Partners
- Year: 2012
-
Photographs: Vesper W. S. Hsieh
Text description provided by the architects. The site is surrounded by agricultural land and commands an open view with local residences encircling the peripheral area. The museum sitting on the north-eastern corner of the site and the factory on the south-western side make room for a largest possible outdoor garden.
Experience in the museum provides tourists with knowledge of chocolate, and a tour around the factory familiarizes them with the chocolate-making process. The string of activities in the museum, plaza, and factory presents a most fulfilling trip to the world of chocolate.
Hunya is a renowned food brand in Taiwan with a long history. To transform the chocolate brand image and inspire innovations, the building adopts solid volume cut in different angles with the chocolate-colored exterior to convey the imagery of chocolate.
Through several major cracks in the appearance a totally distinct, flowing inner space is seen. A void space is created by the 3-floor atrium through the center of the volume, with a sky-bridge and staircases crossing within. The terminal point of tour is a greenhouse of cacao trees. Various exhibitions take place in the spaces on both sides of the greenhouse, like chocolate, a symbol of ever-lasting taste with surprising fillings, embodying the daring, innovative brand spirit.
