POETIC LIGHT & WATER
The elevated cruise ship terminal sits delicately and majestically above a large open public landscaped plaza that is activated by the flow of people moving back and forth between the harbor edge and the city. From the city, the terminal is an urban scaled window or aperture that frames the harbor and water beyond. Approaching the terminal from the city side a gently graded ramp invites people up to the Gateway Plaza, an active public space located beneath the illuminated and sculpted underside of the floating Terminal Building. This new elevated public space, sheltered from the strong sun and seasonal rains, provides a spectacular vantage point to overlook the diverse surroundings of the Port of Kaohsiung. This dramatic yet refined plaza frames views of the city and its’ skyline on one side while providing impressive views of the harbor and sea beyond on the other.