For the 321st anniversary of the founding of Chiayi City in Taiwan, MVRDV has completed a temporary timber pavilion housing an exhibition on manufacturing, craft, and construction with wood.
Located across from Chiayi’s city hall, the Wooden Wonders pavilion encloses a square courtyard, with the shape of its perimeter structure inspired by the city’s timber construction heritage.
For the design of the pavilion, MVRDV began with an architectural study of the existing timber buildings of Chiayi. The team found that timber buildings were represented in a wide variety of time periods and styles, including diagonal cuts to emphasize street corners and elaborate rooflines resulting from ornamental crowns and decorative facade elements.

The exhibition occupies the perimeter space around this courtyard, split into five sections. One of these sections is dedicated to the forest. A second is known as the workshop, which recognizes the historic craftsmanship of Chiayi.
The remaining three sections are dedicated to Chiayi’s potential as Taiwan’s “Wood Capital.” The exhibition draws parallels with regions all around the world, from Norway to New Zealand, showcasing how other places have developed their wood traditions and how they have adapted to modern conditions to maintain this culture to this day.
In the main hall, the exhibition presents Chiayi’s timber future, inviting visitors to imagine what life could be like with a reinvigorated wood culture.
The project will be on display throughout Chiayi’s anniversary celebrations, from December 12–28, providing a space for residents to gather, learn about the city’s heritage, and discuss the city’s “timber future.”