Tjibaou Cultural Center is located on the eastern outskirts of Noum é a (Noumea), capital of (New Caledonia), France's overseas Territory, by bus 40 from downtown.
Tjibaou Cultural Center was named for Jean-Marie Tjibaou, the leader of the Kanak National Independence Movement of the (Kanak) ethnic group, who was shot dead in 1989, with a lagoon on one side of the peninsula and mangrove forests on the other. The architectural landscape was coordinated by Italian architect Renzo Piano and A.D.C.K. (the Agency for the Development of Kanak Culture), who were jointly chosen by French Prime Minister Mitterrand (Francois Mitterrand) and the widow of Jean-Marie Tjibaou. This cultural center was set up to enrich Kanak's cultural heritage, encourage contemporary artistic creation and promote cultural research and exchange. Its architectural design is to integrate the traditional arc structure of Kanak's house into the style of modern architecture, and it is deliberately designed as an unfinished image of the house, symbolizing that Kanak's culture is still changing.
Tjibaou Cultural Center has a unique modernist shape, consisting of 10 small, medium and small curved wood and metal buildings, and the village is connected by a curved corridor that symbolizes the central passage of the traditional village of Kanak. Each building is ventilated and transparent, telling the story through interlaced light and shadow. It is now one of the landmarks in Noum é a, with venues such as indigenous houses, acting appearances, multimedia cultural centres and so on.
