Cianjin District Ambassador Hotel Kaohsiung
Located by the Love River riverbanks, Ambassador Hotel Kaohsiung was designed by Tokyo Hotel, constructed by Taiwan Kumagi in 1977, and overseen by Cai Bo-feng (who also designed its interior). The Ambassador Hotel is asymmetrical and cross-shaped. It measures 75 meters tall and boasts 500 guest rooms. To capture Love River’s beautiful view, the southwest corner of the hotel adopted a curved design, with other areas adjusted accordingly, enabling most guest rooms and the top floor restaurant to enjoy a panoramic view. An outdoor swimming pool was installed on the ground floor’s inner concave, which shields the pool from the noise of surrounding roads.
前金／高雄國賓飯店
位於愛河畔的高雄國賓飯店起建於1977年，由日本東急旅社設計，華熊營造施工，並由蔡柏鋒建築師配合執行細部的設計與監造。蔡建築師對於超高層飯店經驗豐富，在高雄國賓飯店之前便有兄弟國際觀光飯店、世紀大飯店(現豪景大酒店)、美琪大飯店(現北市民權東路上海儲蓄銀行)、六福客棧、豪華酒店等作品。
高雄國賓飯店整體的平面配置呈現不對稱的十字形，總高75公尺並擁有500間客房，而低樓層則有當時最大的國際會議廳與宴客廳，為了因應會議廳大空間的需求，底層採用了大跨度的結構系統有別於高樓層的結構，而在視野上的考量面愛河一側的西南角採用了內凹的弧形設計，平面配置也呼應做出了曲面的型態變化，達到大部分客房與頂層展望餐廳有開闊的視野，內凹處圍塑出的空間也在地面層設置了露天泳池，隔絕了與周邊道路的喧囂。
文／黃則維、柳青薰
圖／高雄市政府文化局