Apr. 02, 2025

Nippon Steel Corporation

The designing titanium, TranTixxii™,” of NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION (hereafter, Nippon Steel) has been selected for the roof tiles on the main temple building with the cooperation of Taiwan Nippon Steel Trading Co., Ltd. This building, which is now under construction in the True Enlightenment Temple and The Xuanzang Culture Religious Park, Zhunan Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan, is approx. 4,800 m2 with traditional roof tiles in which about 30 tons of titanium will be used. Once completed, it will be the world’s largest temple with a titanium roof, surpassing the approx. 15 tons used at Senso-ji Temple and, approx. 22 tons used at Zojo-ji Temple. About 53,000 titanium tiles will be used.

The total floor area of the facilities to be constructed in the True Enlightenment Temple and The Xuanzang Culture Religious Park is up to 44,761 m2, including eleven buildings in total. These facilities are categorized into four types: (1) the main hall for religious activities; (2) restaurants and multifunctional activity spaces; (3) cultural center (such as offices, lecture rooms, and an auditorium) and (4) accommodations such as dormitories. The main hall that will use titanium tiles is the symbolic architecture of this project.

The roof of the main hall is designed by Noi design International Co., Ltd. (Taipei, Taiwan) under Ruentex Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., a major construction company. Chiwas Building Materials Co., Ltd. (New Taipei City, Taiwan), which also repairs cultural properties, and Tas Metal Co., Ltd. (Kaohsiung City, Taiwan) are to be in charge of detailed designs and construction. Master Prosperous Industrial Co., Ltd. (New Taipei City, Taiwan), who is good at precision press working, is to process the molded tiles in which TranTixxii is used.

The exterior of the main hall is designed in the traditional style of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. The Xuanzang Cultural Center, the other symbolic building of this project, is designed based on the concept of Nalanda Temple, which was the center of Buddhism and the largest temple in India about 1,300 years ago when Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty made a pilgrimage to the temple.

The titanium material to be used is the TranTixxii AD03 (blast treatment) design*1 which gives a profound impression while the specific gravity of titanium is 4.51, about half that of copper (8.9), which is used in traditional buildings. The roofing of titanium tiles will be carried out this summer and construction of the temple will be completed in 2026.

TranTixxii™ is the world’s first titanium brand that realizes “beauty transcending ages.” This material has been used for about 700 or more buildings in Japan and overseas, including renowned theaters, hotels, art museums, and church buildings.

Nippon Steel will always integrate the world’s highest technologies and manufacturing prowess to continue contributing to advancing society through the activities compliant with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (one of the targets of “11. Sustainable Cities and Communities”: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage).

■ Outline of Project

• Name: True Enlightenment Temple and The Xuanzang Culture Religious Park
• Place: Zhunan Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan
•  Construction: Ruentex Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
• Roof design: Noi design International Co., Ltd.
•  Construction of roof: Chiwas Building Materials Co., Ltd and Tas Metal Co., Ltd.
•  Tile forming: Master Prosperous Industrial Co., Ltd.
•  Titanium parts/construction method: Roof/roofing of formal titanium tiles
•  Completion: October 2026
  

▼Nippon Steel’s designing titanium TranTixxii website:
https://www.nipponsteel.com/product/trantixxii/

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