Journal

"Through the restoration and activation of this old house, we strive to 'leave a legacy that outlives our own.'" What began as a flour factory in the Japanese rule period, then served for decades as a fragrant alleyway noodle shop, has been gently reborn as Tainan ArtDeCorner. This contemporary community space embodies the simple yet profound design philosophy of the Harmony Environmental Architecture Design team.

Since its opening in 1914, Tokyo's Marunouchi Station Building has been a vital transportation hub. It has also served as a cornerstone of the Marunouchi district's regeneration, working with surrounding buildings to create an urban fabric where old and new coexist. Nestled within this historic structure, the Tokyo Station Hotel, established in 1915, is far more than just a railway hotel. It is a unique venue that allows guests to step directly into history and experience the atmosphere of a bygone era.

In early 2025, the X-Basic Planning team traveled to Japan to participate in the 'International Symposium on the 10th Anniversary of Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites' Inscription on the World Heritage List,' and also visited the Tomioka Silk Mill in person to gain a deeper understanding of how this site has evolved into a cultural hub connecting past and present. This field study not only enabled the team to absorb its revitalization experience but also served as an opportunity to engage in dialogue with international cases—we hope to induce mutual inspiration and facilitate learning between the research and regeneration of Kaohsiung Port Area and Tomioka Silk Mill, jointly depicting a vision for sustainable development of cultural heritage.

How can cultural heritage transcend being a specimen for one-time viewing and be integrated progressively into contemporary daily life? The general Taiwanese experience of early historic sites is limited to cursory guided tours, with the buildings themselves seeming frozen in time, disconnected from urban life. Addressing this, Professor Jung Fang-chieh proposes a solution using 'curatorial thinking' to showcase multiple dimensions of historic sites, and implements this philosophy through lesson planning, bridging the gap between old buildings and people starting from basic education.

As part of the 'Good City Talks' cultural heritage promotion lecture series, Professor Ye Junlin from Chung Yuan Christian University's Department of Architecture was invited to the former National Women's Association Hall, restored by master craftsman Su Qingliang. Exploring the identity of 'craftsmen' who physically build architecture yet are rarely mentioned, he reviewed the life of masonry master Su Qingliang and the challenges of preserving traditional skills in contemporary society. He also engaged in a dialogue with Li Zhishang, Chief Restoration Specialist from Mingxiang Culture, and Xiao Dingxiong, Associate Director of X-Basic Planning, to explore the diverse cultivation of Taiwanese craftsmen, their employment environment, and the current state of the cultural heritage restoration industry.

This year, in response to the invitation of the Kaohsiung City Bureau of Cultural Affairs, X-Basic Planning helped organize a series of cultural heritage promotion activities under the theme of 'Good City Talks'. This time, we invited architect Lin Guanghao from Hao Architects to return to the Xiao Yao Garden air raid shelter to speak on the topic 'Tradition x Innovation: From Today's Ruins to Tomorrow's Highlights,' sharing the beliefs he has upheld throughout his career and his restoration experience with the 'Kaohsiung City Historic Building Xiao Yao Garden,' which won the 2023 National Cultural Heritage Preservation Award.

For the first event of the 'Good City Talks' cultural heritage promotion series, Professor Lin Hsiao-wei from Chung Yuan Christian University's Department of Architecture was invited to the Badi Building Old House Café to speak on the possibilities of sustainable local development through preservation and revitalization of cultural heritage under the topic 'It Can Be a Multiple-Choice Question: Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Community Coexistence,' Professor Lin Hsiao-wei has been dedicated to the integration and promotion of Taiwan's cultural routes and relevant research for many years. In this lecture, she analyzed the value of industrial cultural heritage and shared actual cases of revitalization from both domestic and international sources, exploring the connections between contemporary cities and cultural heritage.