Three international architects have been shortlisted for a design competition offered by the Department of Cultural Affairs in Taiwan winning US$50,000 each. Morphosis Architects from the USA, Jose Ingacio & Reneta Sentkiewicz from Spain and OMA from the Netherlands will go on to stage two of the competition for the design of the Taipei Performing Arts Centre.

The contract has been fought for by world class firms including Zaha Hadid Architects, MVRDV, SURV Associates and Jakob + MacFarlane(SARL ARCHITECTURE) who each received honorable mentions and US$20,000 as a prize.

The Taipei City Government opened up the competition as, for the past two decades, Taipei has lacked an international standard performance space which will be a necessity in their efforts to establish Taipei as a capital of culture. The winning entry will need to design a Performing Arts Center to serve a variety of large-scale performances, including dramas and operas. The main structure must contain three theaters: a 1,500-seat Grand Theater, and two 800-seat theaters for repertory performances at a professional level.

The competition is being judged by an international jury including Shu Chang who is Master of Architecture at Harvard University and Louisa Hutton of the Architectural Association School of Architecture, London.

The final winner, who will receive service fees of US$18.65million will be announced on 22 January 2009.