During Japanese Rule, under the development of the Takao Harbor construction plan, an area once underwater was filled to create new land, and the widespread salt lakes and marshes were transformed into orderly city blocks after urban planning. The port districts of Hamasen and Yancheng boomed with the arrival of modern infrastructure—wharves, railways, and a flood of businesses and capital. In the 1920s, Yancheng served as the entertainment district for the commercial port, boasting theaters, restaurants, cafés, and department stores that catered to every leisure need. This flourishing scene continued well into the post-war era. It was not until the 1970s, with the eastward shift of Kaohsiung’s political and economic center, that it gradually began to decline.
Although Yancheng is no longer the bustling ‘sakariba’ (vibrant commercial and entertainment center) it once was, the old houses and streets still retain shadows of the golden years. With restoration and refurbishment, the spirit of the district can be revived. Based on this concept, this year X-Basic Planning and our collaborative team General-Basic participated in the ‘Old Street House Regeneration Movement’ launched by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government, implementing facade improvement projects for 22 buildings that are over half a century old in Yancheng and surrounding areas. We restore building facades by removing non-original materials, relocating utilities like wiring and AC units, improving weather resistance of the old house, and adding accent lighting. We hope to outline the historical context of the port city’s development between the old and new urban districts through the continuation and restoration of spatial narratives.
Revitalizing Old Houses from the Outside In
In the early stages of the ‘Old Street House Regeneration Movement’, a team led by President Chen, Chi-jen of Kaohsiung University contacted numerous homeowners, ultimately selecting demonstration sites including an old house on Lainan Street, two connected buildings on Xinle Street, eight connected buildings on Zhongshan First Road, and the International Shopping Mall (formerly known as Kaohsiung Ginza). These old buildings, used as residences, shops, or vacant houses, carry the past stories of the Yancheng area, but have lost their luster over the years and face difficulties in repair and maintenance due to the traditional methods used in their construction and material acquisition issues. This project began with exterior renovation to illuminate several forgotten corners of the old city district.
Like the 2023 ‘Balcony Renovation’ project held by X-Basic Planning in Taipei, this old house regeneration action uses subtle urban design interventions—small-scale facade improvements—to help communities rediscover the charm of their old houses. To minimize disruption to homeowners’ daily lives, the renovation team must complete the facade improvement work within a limited timeframe, yet they spare no effort in refining details and removing dust, striving to restore the original material textures and decorative vocabulary of the buildings.
Take the first completed ‘Lainan Street Old House’ as an example. This home that carries many important memories for the owner Mr. Li and has witnessed the couple’s daily life, has gradually developed various symptoms of building aging over its 60 years: inevitable damage to the mosaic wall tiles, peeling paint on the wrought iron railings, and the delicate small-grid wooden windows that were replaced with modern aluminum windows for functional considerations. During the construction period, while cleaning, repairing, and waterproofing the exterior walls, team members also visited the site multiple times to carefully compare the dimensions and color codes of the cleaned walls and railings, in order to select the most suitable facing tiles and paint. They also followed the original wooden window’s partition design to custom-make dark brown aluminum airtight windows for this project.
The renovated house on Street old still harmoniously coexists with surrounding buildings. The striking contrast between the warm-colored facing tiles and the sky-blue wrought iron railings makes this old apartment the most eye-catching building in the neighborhood at first glance. Although the traditional dry goods trading company that settled here 20 years ago is no longer in operation, and family members who once lived together on Lainan Street have gone their separate ways, the restored old house has revived past memories vividly, leaving a footnote for the area’s vibrant commercial history.
Similarly, the ‘Xinle Street semi-detached house,’ which was once used as a shop, was the original home of a well-known duck meat restaurant in Kaohsiung. After subsequent generations moved away, it became a warehouse and food preparation space. The signboard frame and canvas awning installed in front of the house concealed its original elegant character, while the pebbledashing columns in the arcade were buried under layers of paint. The team removed the added facade structures, replaced the existing iron windows with weather-resistant wooden windows, and carefully preserved the window pattern craftsmanship on one side. Additionally, they referenced the original pebbledash texture and, after removing the paint, selected stones with similar color and grain size along with mixed paint to redefine the arcade space based on the original contour lines.
The carefully cleaned and repaired red brick wall reveals several conspicuous damages under the wall-washing lights at night. According to the family memories passed down by the owner, Mr. Wu, these indentations are very likely damage caused by bomb fragments left from American bombing during World War II. For this reason, the renovation team deliberately preserved the uneven wall surface, allowing the architectural space to record the tumultuous history this land has experienced.
Restoring the City Block, Reviving Its Former Glory
The ‘Eight Connected Buildings on Zhongshan First Road,’ located in front of Kaohsiung Station, capture the eyes of travelers from north and south, shaping people’s first impression of the city. This year, seven apartments joined the “Old Street House Revival,” ranging from residences to a motorcycle rental shop, a hair salon, and vacant units—each façade reflecting over half a century of distinct character. Following the removal of signage and utility reorganization, cultural heritage cleaning specialists were brought in to restore the facade’s clay decorative carvings using paint removal techniques. To meet contemporary needs, the renovation project also installed new signboards, replaced air conditioners, relocated outdoor units beneath the arcade, and applied galvanized expanded metal to maintain overall visual aesthetics.
Interestingly, considering that the hair salon in the old apartment primarily serves migrant worker communities, the team reached a consensus with the owner during the signage update to redesign it in languages commonly used by the customers. The eight connected buildings, which demonstrate the living trajectories of generations, are a concrete representation of local development. After the facade improvement, they will continue to reflect the port city’s inclusive spirit where the new and old coexist harmoniously.
Besides row houses and apartment-style old buildings, ‘Kaohsiung Ginza,’ built in 1936 with Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district as its blueprint, is also one of the improvement cases in this project. This area, Kaohsiung’s original department store street, was once a hub for imported goods and trendy venues like bars and cafes. After suffering severe damage in WWII, the building regained its commercial life in the 1950s thanks to the Korean War and the arrival of US troops. Now called ‘International Plaza,’ it prospered and expanded in 1963 in response to the growing trend of arcade streets, adopting the era’s popular arcade-style design. With the shift in urban development, however, the International Plaza’s modern sheen faded, leaving behind an empty atrium and connecting corridors as the sole testament to its vibrant past.
Accompanying Yancheng District through the hustle and quiet times of the International Market. (Image source: Kaohsiung City Government Bureau of Cultural Affairs, filmed by ARZ FILMS)
Like most old buildings that have gone from prosperity to dereliction, Kaohsiung Ginza faces issues such as complicated property rights and vacant houses. The team therefore chose to intervene with a small yet significant ‘lighting plan,’ attempting to awaken public memory of this commercial street by literally illuminating its entrances and passageways. The team added new spotlights while keeping the old fluorescent lights, creating a conscious contrast between eras for visitors. Specially designed lampshades ensure the new additions don’t disrupt the facade, maintaining the space’s historic ambiance.
The ongoing ‘Old Street and Old House Revitalization Movement’ is gradually renewing the face of Yancheng, one subtle facade and interior adjustment at a time. As the planning, design, and implementation team for this project, we hope to realize our long-held vision for the regeneration of old buildings through a series of practical actions. When city blocks can embrace diverse architectural styles and showcase the aesthetic trends of each era, local development patterns will naturally integrate into contemporary life, becoming fertile ground that nourishes cultural foundations.
The old street house revitalization movement has illuminated the passage spaces of Kaohsiung’s Ginza.
