Keelung urban renewal project taps young talent

2015/09/21

An urban renewal plan for the northeastern part of Keelung City is drawing upon the creativity of young architecture talents in an effort to transform the port metropolis into a major Taiwan tourism destination.

The multistage local government-backed proposal involves revamping the former Keelung Area Fishermen’s Association building, Zhengbin fishing harbor and Heping Island facilities to form a north-south scenic corridor. It supplements construction already underway at Keelung Port and National Museum of Marine Science and Technology.

Keelung Deputy Mayor Lin Yong-fa said Sept. 16 that the plan comes at the right time and capitalizes on the 9 million-strong Greater Taipei market. “We are looking to further build on this momentum by using idle military sites, state-owned land and a derelict former Taiwan Sugar Corp. wharf facility in Bachimen community for leisure and recreational facilities.

“An application for central government support in this endeavor is with the Construction and Planning Agency and Fisheries Agency.”

As part of preparations for the plan, an 11-day workshop attended by 150 architecture students and teachers from Shih Chien University in Taipei City is underway in Keelung.

Participants are visiting various sites, attending presentations on local culture, ecology, geography and history, as well as producing designs of which the best one will be announced Sept. 25.

Hsu Yen-hsing, director-general of the city’s Urban Development Bureau, said the workshop reflects the faith of the local government in the creative potential of young people. “The initiative is certain to provide a valuable platform for introducing innovative concepts and fresh thinking as demonstrated by the 86 Design House project.”

Under the initiative, a disused police dormitory was given a new lease of life as a modern exhibition venue designed by New Taipei City-based Tamkang University students. Completed Aug. 17, the facility is proving extremely popular with visitors and locals alike.

“We hope to once again capture some of that youthful magic in a bottle and build our city into one of great appeal and cultural interest,” Hsu said.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=236771&ctNode=2194&mp=9)