Let's take a look at the latest highlight in Pier 2 Arts Center- PAPO'A HARBOR HOTEL, formerly a staff dormitory of Kaohsiung Port established in 1968.
Take the Light Rail Transit (LRT) to the Penglai Pier-2 Station (C-13) and here we are. Designed by Kaohsiung-based designers, the hotel features 64 rooms, with the architectural exterior echoing the historical port city impression of Kaohsiung and the terrazzo flooring. Embracing the design philosophy of “A harbor for sailors, a waypoint for navigators”, PAPO'A HARBOR HOTEL is now officially in operation.
The Waiting Room of Kaohsiung Port used to be a temporary residence for TIPC employees awaiting their shifts. It was later converted to staff dormitory. This site bears five decades of work-related memories for staff at TIPC. It has now been transformed into a hospitality venue, linking with the tourism route of the Pier-2 Art Center.
Then take a 2-minute walk to the Pier-2 Base No.2 at the intersection of Bishin Street and Lainan Street. This space was originally the First Bank Warehouse built in 1964. To create a co-creation base, Cultural Affairs Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government turned this place into a shared workspace based on the concept of cross-border cooperation and resource sharing in 2023. Designers from various fields have been invited to be part of this initiative. The ground-floor street-level area has been developed into a café and exhibition space, adding more design and artistic energy to the Kaohsiung Port area.
Light rail passing by PAPO'A HARBOR HOTEL
First Bank Kaohsiung Warehouse
Port Knowledge: Love River Bay Yacht Marina Area A
Located in the indoor space of Coral Zone of the Kaohsiung Music Center and the 3.26 hectares of water in front of it, ARGO Yacht Club invested NT$ 250 million to build 87 international-class yacht berths, an international-class yacht club and a marine education center.
The piling operations and HDPE casing installation are currently underway, with a total of 76 sets.
Knowledge Supply Station
HDPE casing is known for its excellent low-temperature resistance, impact resistance, chemical stability, and good toughness. It is commonly used for transporting tap water, natural gas, chemicals and seawater due to its superior flexibility. It is applied to the steel piles of the yacht marina in this project to prevent direct seawater corrosion and also extend the service life of the steel piles.
Kaohsiung's unique seaport conditions make it extremely suitable for the development of yacht industry. The output value of the yacht industry in Kaohsiung accounts for over 80% of the overall yacht output value in Taiwan, ranking No. 4 in the global yacht output value. With its robust shipbuilding industry base and strategic port advantages, Kaohsiung is the perfect site for the establishment of a yacht industry cluster.
Love River Bay Yacht Terminal Area A Project
Piling operations and HDPE casing burial
Port Knowledge: Bamboo Dragonfly at the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal
Overlooking the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal,
the window cleaning robot installed on the top floor looks like a bamboo dragonfly installed by Doraemon.
The design concept of the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal is inspired by the fluid dynamics of sea waves.
The glass curtain alongside 3D curved metal panels create a sense of advanced technology.
The window cleaning robot can help clean the exterior.
The window cleaning robot was manufactured locally in Germany and shipped to Taiwan for installation.
The hanging cage is 3.5 meters long, 0.6 meter wide, 1 meter high, and with a load of 300 kilograms.
Let's take a look at this window cleaning robot disguised as a bamboo dragonfly!
Window Washing Machine Cage at Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal
High-altitude hanging installation of window washing machine at Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal
After installing a window washing machine at Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal
Window Washing Machine at Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal
Port Knowledge: Reappearance of the Historical Warehouse, Kaohsiung Port Warehouse No.2 (KW2)
Reappearance of the Historical Warehouse
Kaohsiung Port Warehouse No.2 (KW2) is located on the Hsinbin St., Hamasen back then, now the Pier 2 in Kaohsiung Port. It was built in 1914 (Taisho 3).
- The Warehouse is a small warehouse built with bricks and a tile roof in 1914 (Taisho 3) dedicated to storing sugar for export, also the predecessor of today's KW2. The railway was laid along the quay, linking the warehouses and the docks, thereby allowing loading and unloading of goods at the same time between the ships and the warehouses.
- In 1962 (Showa 37), after the bombing of the original site by U.S. forces during World War II, the warehouse was rebuilt with reinforced concrete pillars and a rebar structure. This new structure was designed specially for the storage and export of sugar and bananas.
- In 2003, Kaohsiung City Government declared it a historical building.
- In 2017, KW2 was renovated with a focus on respecting its historical and cultural significance, aiming to preserve the elements left over the past century, such as the original walls and windows, to highlight the building's classic and refined character. A new glass pavilion was constructed on the exterior to indicate the original boundaries of the warehouse. A large postcard-themed wall is planned in the warehouse, collecting old photos of Kaohsiung Port to show the epitome of the changes here. The old wall area has been transformed into a shared dining space, where elegantly shaped bamboo and cypress trees create a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere. KW2 revitalizes the waterfront historical space through a combination of cultural and creative activities, exhibitions, and dining operations.
KW2 in 2022
KW2 in 1914