Journal

In 2024, in response to the invitation of the Beipu Township Office, Professor Wu Chen-ting from the Department of Landscape Architecture, Chung Yuan Christian University and X-Basic Planning undertook fieldwork in the Beipu settlement. Starting with the assessment of old houses for potential reuse, his team attempted to realize residents' living aspirations while also infusing contemporary vitality into the old settlement through these historical spaces. The 'Reimagining Beipu Old Settlement' series of training courses unfolds in this context.

Professor Wu Chen-ting from the Department of Landscape Architecture, Chung Yuan Christian University and X-Base Planning delve into the Beipu settlement to explore the possibilities presented by old houses and community prosperity. They first selected five old houses with revitalization potential from the settlement preservation area. While restoring the physical spaces, they also attempted to imbue them with public accessibility and openness, making these old houses windows for dialogue between contemporary life and repositories of historical memories. Furthermore, under the theme 'Reimagining Beipu's Old Settlement,' they planned two training courses focusing on 'Management of Old Houses' and 'Management of Local Communities.'

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.

To prepare content for a special publication, the X-Basic Planning team visited architect Wu Chien-chih at the Workstation JK. In the ground floor space filled with the warm aromas from architect Lai Jen-shuo's kitchen, we gained deep insights into its regeneration process and design philosophy. Hidden in a narrow alley on Taichung's Jiguang Street, this building, originally a factory and residence, was once forgotten with the passage of time like many old houses in the central district. However, after a visit from the two designers, it found a turning point. Taking 'nostalgia' as its starting point, it explores another possibility for urban living.

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.

Invited by X-Basic Planning, Ms. Wu Li-Chu addressed audiences at Lukang Chang-Yuan Hospital to speak on the topic "No Stage is the Best Stage - How to Perform in Old Spaces," sharing the inspirations and emotions she experienced during her 20 years working in theater. She explored ways to link old spaces with modern art, awakening local memories while reconnecting the public with historic buildings.

As part of the 'Good City Talks' cultural heritage promotion lecture series, Professor Yeh Chun-lin from Department of Landscape Architecture, Chung Yuan Christian University was invited to the former National Women's Association Hall, restored by Master Su Ching-liang. Exploring the identity of 'craftsmen' who physically build architecture yet are rarely mentioned, he reviewed the life of masonry Master Su Ching-liang and the challenges of preserving traditional skills in contemporary society. He also engaged in a dialogue with Li Chih-shang, Chief Restoration Specialist from Mingxiang Culture, and Hsiao Ting-hsiung, 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 Kuang-hao 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.

This time, X-Basic Planning invited Professor Emeritus Wang Chun-hsiu from National Tsing Hua University to Chang-Yuan Hospital to speak on 'Interpreting Historical Sites - The Journey of Historical Excavation in Hsinchu Tsing Hua Garden.' Starting from several important segments in the development of the Hsinchu Tsing Hua Garden, he shared his 30-year journey of local research, which resulted in works such as 'Historical Sites of Hsinchu Tsing Hua Garden' and 'I Write Therefore I Am: Memories Reproduced from the Library Stamps of Kaohsiung Refinery.'