A dragon-shaped loop of steel that wears solar panels like scales—sports infrastructure pretending to be myth.
Stadium in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Featured in Toyo Ito's definitive monograph, Toyo Ito: Forces of Nature.
Visitor Guide
Walk the full exterior arc; the ‘gap’ in the loop is the building’s signature. If it’s open, climb to higher concourses for the roof’s solar pattern to read.
From the main entrance gap where head and tail nearly meet; shoot just before sunset for glowing panel edges and readable curvature.
Public access depends on event days; exterior grounds are typically accessible even when the interior is closed. For inside views, check event schedules or tour availability locally.
The solar roof is not a token gesture—thousands of panels are integrated into the roof skin, turning the envelope into a power plant.
45–90 minutes
Design & Structure
A continuous looping bowl/roof form modeled digitally to resolve sightlines, wind behavior, and an integrated photovoltaic skin. The formal ‘question-mark/dragon’ geometry is backed by highly rationalized steel segmentation for fabrication.
Steel structure + photovoltaic panels + metal cladding—materials chosen to make curvature precise at stadium scale while producing energy.
The roof’s large-span steel system carries both gravity and lateral loads while supporting a dense PV layer—weight, wind uplift, and maintenance access all had to be engineered into the skin.
More by Toyo Ito
View all →
Ito-toren
VivoCity
Torre Realia BCN
Hotel Porta Fira
Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture, Imabari
Kaohsiung Main Public Library
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed National Stadium (Kaohsiung)?+
National Stadium (Kaohsiung) was designed by Toyo Ito and completed in 2009. It is located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Where is National Stadium (Kaohsiung) located?+
National Stadium (Kaohsiung) is located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Its coordinates are 22.7028°, 120.2950°.
When was National Stadium (Kaohsiung) built?+
National Stadium (Kaohsiung) was completed in 2009. It was designed by Toyo Ito.
Can I visit National Stadium (Kaohsiung)?+
National Stadium (Kaohsiung) is a real building in Kaohsiung that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.