Since the 1960s, the World Vegetable Center has been engaged in research and has organised training and outreach initiatives to highlight the potential of vegetables for healthier lives. Over the past five decades, the main campus in Tainan, Taiwan, has served as a research hub. However, in response to growing community interest and support, a transformation towards greater openness and engagement with the local community and international visitors has been envisioned. This presents a unique opportunity to diversify the site’s use by integrating various functions and activities that can help the organisation achieve its mission of serving as a bridge between science and society.
The World Vegetable Center envisions VegWorld as a dynamic project where visitors can fully immerse themselves in the story of vegetables by exploring their diversity and uses, participating in cooking workshops and urban farming training programmes, or engaging in international scientific gatherings. The repurposing of the former laboratory building is essential to the realisation of VegWorld, and represents a fundamental addition to the campus.
The project will feature three distinct yet complementary areas: a discovery space that narrates the history of the World Vegetable Center, a multifunctional convening area capable of hosting meetings, workshops, and conferences for up to 300 people, and a co-working space to foster collaboration with start-ups. Mecanoo’s vision for the building respects the modernist typology that defines the campus by preserving the existing structure and introduces an innovative volume above the former patio to accommodate part of the new programme, stimulating curiosity in visitors.
Exploring the world of vegetables and seeds is like discovering a hidden treasure, where each carries the potential for life and growth. Beneath their modest exteriors lie intricate stories of resilience, adaptation, and the promise of sustenance. The uniquely shaped architectural intervention draws inspiration from nature’s structured patterns, and, along with the new interiors and façade, contributes to a more sustainable and future-proof building for generations to come.