Container arts festival gets underway in Kaohsiung

2016/01/18

A festival spotlighting the potential of shipping containers as post-disaster shelters is underway at Pier-2 Railway Park in Kaohsiung City.

The eighth edition of Kaohsiung International Container Arts Festival features 14 works by 10 architectural groups from Taiwan, Australia, France, the U.K. and U.S. It is themed Ark of Tomorrow and organized by the city government’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs.

Bureau Director-General Shih Che said the theme reflects the increasingly important issue of post-catastrophe housing, and the environmental impact of urban development.

“The two-month event offers a platform for architects to devise innovative ways of handling short-term housing crises in the wake of such calamities as last year’s earthquake in Nepal and Typhoon Soudelor in Taiwan.”

According to Shih, Kaohsiung has hosted the biannual festival since 2001 on the strength of its longstanding ties with port-based industrial development. “This history is encapsulated in the use of waste manufacturing materials by the participating talents,” he said.

One highlight is “Star Core” by locals Huang Guan-hua and Zaki Yin. The 20-foot-long piece, which can be easily transported by helicopter, boasts multilayered chambers that can be quickly expanded. Another important feature is built-in satellite transmission equipment for ease of communication.

“The aim of design is to offer an efficient and airlift-friendly shelter enabling habitants to maintain 24/7 contact with the outside world,” Huang said.

Equally intriguing is “Recontainer” by U.K.-based architects Jonas Cels, Chiu Wei-yang, Ana Diez Lopez, Olivia Pearson, Anna Sundstedt, Yi Yun-fu and Mike Yin. The two-level recycled steel structure is equipped with opening sides to create a bright and airy space.

“The wing-like design represents hope for those left homeless during times of turmoil,” Pearson said. “The steel also serves as a formidable barrier against the elements after it is lowered into place using a manually operated device.”

Running until Feb. 14, the festival includes a digital display of container designs and design competition for the public.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=241343&ctNode=2194&mp=9)