The construction of Yong-Quan Park and the restoration of the historical building in the Taichung Office of Teikoku Sugar Factory, which was established 90 years ago, is an urban regeneration project for the new blending of culture and ecology. Through the transformation of spatial typology and renewal programs, the project has become a symbiosis of urban culture display and ecological recreation. The purposes of this project were to reproduce the cultural scenarios of the past people’s lives with great effort, to respect the historical context of the city, and to show the development process of local industries. The design values the process of the original urban space development, retain the existing topography of the site, take the facilities left behind from the development as a record of the process of this site, and use it as one part of environmental education.
The design highlights the three characteristics. Firstly, facilities considering both systematization and multiple functions: reasonable applications, reflecting cultural history in typology, generating active interaction, and integrating architecture, landscape and art installations when planning. Combining with landscape systematic thinking guide to urban design methodologies. Secondly, the cultural landscape highly presented: The urban space structure shaped by the sugar industry settlements during the colonial period of Japan, the daily memory of railway transportation, and the protection of the ecological green habitats of the water are presented. Thirdly, Compliance with natural hydrology and urban flooding control: Combined with city planning drainage, the ecological self-purification system of the original ecosystem and the urban water for the conservation water source cycle. Combining the display of industrial culture and transportation heritage site, creating the dialogue of culture, ecology and environmental protection.
Design Method:
1.Water conservation and the construction of ecological habitats are the focus of sustainable urban development. The bottom of Xingquan Lake is a gravel layer which is the uniqueness of Taichung. The water level of the lake changes with the level of groundwater veins, as if breathing with the climate. In this project, the concept of city water conservation sustainability was established, and the utility tunnels transport the clean groundwater that would have been directly discharged into the ditches back to the Xingquan lake for water supplement with which required by the maintenance of waterfront habitats. Xingquan Lake is also a detention basin in the area to regulate the amount of water to avoid flooding during rainstorms. The drainage outlet of the groundwater pumping well in the past is preserved and transformed to be playground of waterflow steps and waterfalls on the green hillside. With water conduction and retention, Yongquan Park regulates the water, reduce the inevitable harms causing by development, and create an area coexisting and breathing with nature.
2.In order to ensure the survival of living organisms, the numbers, habitat requirements, environmental hydrological data and regional groundwater level data were investigated in detail. The waters combine natural engineering to lay stones for porous revetments. An ecological island is established. The old bridge piers are preserved for water birds resting. A deep-water area is prepared for the fish. Appropriate plants in accordance with the water level change to ensure the diversity and stability of ecosystems provide biodiversity for habitats. Crops and native trees are planted to attract butterflies and birds. Abandoned wood and stones are used for paving materials for the park.
3.The regeneration of the sugar and railway industry culture continues to expand the memory of citizens’ lives through design that preserves heritage, transforms to new functions, and reproduces traditional elements. The abandoned roof tiles of the Teikoku Sugar Factory are applied; The waterfront pier and platform are located where the railway track laid; There’s a newly laid railway track square under the old tree.
4.The site is surrounded by Taichung Railway Station Railway Cultural Park, and commercial such as Gancheng Commercial District, Jianguo Market, and shopping malls. After the urban renewal of the station area, transportation becomes more convenient. This project is a relay point for the leisure and commercial districts and also the connection to the Taichung Cycling Path Network, the Taichung Train Railway, the Taiwan Connection 1908, and the future MRT.
5.The abandoned old sugar industry office was restored into the Taichung Industrial Story Museum. Cultural and creative offices, cafes, exhibition halls, recreations and art exhibitions are introduced into the building. Combine outdoor plaza for markets and performances, education courses and activities, the project provides high-quality parks around the lake, driving the development of the area.
Project location: Leye Rd., East Dist., Taichung City, Taiwan
Design year: 2014
Year Built: 2020
