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Yancheng Old Street House Regeneration Movement

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.

The bustling streets of Yancheng in the early 1970s. (Image source/Photographer Chung, Ching-hsi, taken in 1973)

Revitalizing Old Houses from the Outside In

The 60-year-old house on Lainan Street is the first completed location in the ‘Old Street House Revitalization Movement.’ (Image source: Kaohsiung City Bureau of Cultural Affairs, filmed by ARZ FILMS)

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.

The team frequently brings catalogs and color samples to the site to identify the most suitable decorative materials for the old house.
Iron flower railings being suspended during installation, with the restoration team reinforcing the ironwork with paint. (Image source: Kaohsiung City Government Cultural Bureau, photographed by ARZ FILMS)

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.

The restored wooden window frames add layers of historical texture to the neighborhood landscape framed within. In the image, Kuo Yi-no (far left), Senior Manager of Design Department II at Xiaoben Team, and Liu Liang-yu, Specialist of the Old House Planning Department, along with other team members are conducting the final inspection.

Restoring the City Block, Reviving Its Former Glory

The eight connected buildings on Zhongshan First Road before restoration, featuring diverse facade styles. (Image source: Kaohsiung City Government Cultural Bureau, photographed by ARZ FILMS)

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.

The old street house revitalization movement restored the neat facade of this row of old apartments while preserving the unique characteristics each household accumulated over time.

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.

Design Department II colleague Yu Pin-jun is preparing color-matched mixed paint for the pebble-dash wall surface.
During the old street house revitalization movement, the team adorned the eight connected buildings on Zhongshan First Road with newly designed signage.

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.

Historical image of Kaohsiung Ginza preserved in the form of a picture postcard during the Japanese colonial period.

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.

Changbin Chung-yung Warehouse- Agricultural Products Cold Chain Logistics System

The Chung-yung Warehouse in Changbin Township was once a space for storing fertilizers for the farmers’ association. With the assistance of X-Basic Planning and Wei-Fong Construction, it has gained new life, transforming into a key node in the “cold chain logistics system.” This time, while working to ensure continual of its historical context as an agricultural storage space, the team has looked further ahead, focusing on the future development of local industries, creating possibilities for locally abundant fruits and vegetables to be processed into specialty products. We hope that in the future, the Chung-yung Warehouse will not only serve as a transit station for storage and transportation but also become a base for establishing Changbin’s local brand, allowing the old warehouse, with its transformed new persona, to continue creating local value and uniqueness.

Changbin Township is known throughout Taiwan for its rich agricultural products such as Pa-hsien rice and roselle, but due to its remote geographical location and insufficient cold storage space, agricultural products suffer spoilage and losses during storage and transportation.

To solve this problem, at the end of 2023, X-Basic Planning and Wei-Fong Construction assisted the Changbin Township Farmers’ Association in transforming the Chung-yung Warehouse, which originally stored fertilizers and grains, into a “cold chain warehouse.”

Within just three months, this warehouse located at the border of Taitung and Hualien counties was given a new lease of life, with a completion ceremony held on January 8.

Photo: Deputy Minister of Agriculture Chen Tian-shou (second from right), Director of the Eastern Branch of the Agriculture and Food Agency Hsu Hui-fei (first from right), and General Manager of Changbin Township Farmers’ Association Hong Cheng-hsian (third from right).

The cold chain warehouse is equipped with RC-style cold storage that can extend the shelf life of local crops, which has helped strengthen the production and sales chain through e-commerce channels and online services for home delivery. It also features a circular baking system, pneumatic single tea bag filling system, grain vacuum packaging machine, and other processing equipment to enhance the market visibility and added economic value of agricultural products. Additionally, the farmers’ association has installed solar panels on the roof, which serve both power generation and heat insulation functions, sustainably and effectively reducing power consumption.

The machine in the image is the ‘Pneumatic Single Tea Bag Filling System,’ which transforms dried vegetables, fruits, and grains into brewing beverages, enhancing market competitiveness. The Taitung No. 3 roselle tea bag in the guest’s hand is made using this system, and is a renowned agricultural specialty product of Changbin Township. The ‘Circular Roasting System’ on the left can process soybeans, red quinoa, and millet into specialty products such as mixed grain tea and Jingang premium soy sauce.

After adding the cold chain system, Chung-yung Warehouse has not only acquired a refreshed exterior appearance but has also undergone a functional transformation, becoming a base for Changbin’s local brands.

Kaohsiung Lighthouse – Municipal Opening and Operation Plan for the Historic Site

Kaohsiung Lighthouse Revitalization Launch! X-Basic Planning and Siao Ben Aiyu team were commissioned by Kaohsiung Port Land Development Co., Ltd. to revitalize the century-old Kaohsiung Lighthouse. The Kaohsiung Lighthouse has long stood on Cihou Mountain, guiding vessels back and forth, and yet it has remained somewhat inaccessible for the public. How to revitalize this sensitive facility, integrate local characteristics, and transform the lighthouse into a local tourist attraction through a ‘regional revitalization’ mindset has been one of the challenging issues the team contemplates continuously.

The team carefully examined Cijin’s local DNA, constantly engaging in dialogue and communication with local youth, teams, and public and private sectors, exchanging ideas with each other. Our vision for the Kaohsiung Lighthouse, an important cultural heritage of Cijin, is not just to redevelop it as a tourist and leisure attraction, but to preserve it as an important base that carries local characteristics and drives local energy.

Current view of the Kaohsiung Lighthouse. (Image source/Yuanjiang Image Studio – Photography by Zhu Yiwen)
Shoreline Coffee has moved into the Kaohsiung Lighthouse park area. (Image source: Yuanjiang Image Studio – Photography by Zhu Yiwen)

Various resources in Cijin District are relatively insufficient due to transportation issues, leading to outbound migration of youth and low willingness to return home for employment and living. Therefore, connecting regional revitalization energy has become one of our important considerations. For this, we found a Cijin native youth – A-Qin, who is the principal of the local brand Shoreline Coffee & Roaster, where both coffee and light meals carry the atmosphere of a port city.

For this project, Coastline Coffee has moved into Kaohsiung Lighthouse. Our small team and Ah Qin discussed every detail, from developing lighthouse-exclusive products to planning the café seating, all with the hope that visitors can enjoy views of the harbor city while savoring ocean-inspired cuisine. Leveraging the advantages of Kaohsiung Lighthouse to energize the local community.

From Gushan to Cijin – Gushan-Cijin Ferry Service Local Revitalization Project

The Cijin Peninsula, located between Gushan in Kaohsiung and the open sea, has been used as a place for ships to dock and cross since ancient times. The Cihou Lighthouse at the northern end of the sandbar has watched over the harbor islands for over a hundred years, while the nearby ferry station connects with the Kaohsiung Port area, transporting crowds with frequent sailings.

In 2024, our small team assisted the Kaohsiung City Ferry Company in implementing the ‘Drumming to the Ferry – Gushan-Cijin Ferry Service Local Revitalization Project.’ With a community-oriented outlook, we redesigned and renovated the interior space of the Cijin Ferry Station, inviting local businesses such as ‘Dusinia Coffee,’ a local self-roasting coffee shop, and ‘Dagang School CC,’ a local organization empowerment unit, to move in and operate. On May 1 (Wednesday), we held the opening ceremony for Dusinia Coffee’s second store and the ‘Aged Mangsi Market’ illustration exhibition to celebrate the reopening of the ferry station.

We are delighted to witness the Cijin Transportation Station, through the collaboration of numerous teams, integrate multiple functions including a youth innovation base, arts and cultural exhibitions, and food services, serving as both a starting point for in-depth travel in Cijin and fertile ground for returning youth to find their roots again.

The Cijin area was once the core of Kaohsiung’s development, nurturing generations of residents through shipbuilding, fishing, and aquaculture. After economic transformation, its tourism industry was fully developed; however, the concentration of tourist hotspots in the Cijin commercial district has led to relatively slower economic development in the Zhongzhou area.

Therefore, when planning the operation of the Cijin Ferry Station, our team envisioned this space as a future base for youth business development for Zhongzhou and surrounding areas, aiming to connect local artisan brands with tourism resources to drive the regeneration and creation of local value.

Associate Director Hsiao Ting-hsiung of X-Basic Planning explains the project team’s concepts and implementation process.
Professor Li Yi-zhi, the host of the Dagang School CC project, delivers a speech outlining the team’s vision.
Collaboration with the local empowerment organization Dagang School CC has enabled the X-Basic Planning team to connect with youth organizations deeply rooted in the community, using the ferry station as a base to jointly promote Cijin’s local culture.
Dusinia Coffee, established by returning young locals, has set up its second shop at the Cijin Ferry Station.

Through our public benefit rental model, we have invited local businesses and organizations to move in, including ‘Dusinia Coffee,’ a local self-roasting coffee shop, and ‘Dagang School CC,’ which focuses on empowering local youth organizations. Their enthusiasm and creativity will continue to breathe vitality into the Cijin Ferry Station.

The ferry station opening tea party also served as a celebration ceremony for the opening of Dusinia Coffee’s second shop. The carefully prepared beverages and refreshments from the shop were the highlight of the event, and will continue to welcome travelers from around the world to the Cijin Peninsula with the rich aroma of coffee.

The first art exhibition at the Cijin Ferry Station was curated by the Dagang School CC team, featuring local artist ‘Chen Nian Wang Shi’ who creates illustrations interpreting Cijin’s landscape through colorful frames.

In addition to food services and art exhibitions, the ‘I-Center Cijin In-depth Travel Center’ operated with assistance from the Dagang School CC team will combine travel information with a map of local youth communities, providing in-depth travel guides for visitors. Furthermore, the creative products by local artisans sold at the travel center also showcase the cultural foundation of the Cijin area.

We hope that the I-Center Cijin In-depth Travel Center will become the starting point for cultural tourism in Cijin.

Fugue of Memory – Chang-Yuan Hospital Music Special Exhibition

The ‘Fugue of Memory’ special exhibition at Chang-Yuan Hospital Lukang Historical Image Museum transforms the arcade space into a time corridor, reviewing Taiwan’s history through the theme of music, and presenting the integration and evolution of ordinary life and Western culture through the intertwined life trajectories of five generations of the Hsu family with music. This special exhibition uses historical images, news reports, and oral interviews to organize family music stories. It also displays antique musical instruments, vinyl records and other cultural relics from the collection. There is an audio area that invites people to put on headphones and immerse themselves in the island’s musical chapters.

The Fugue of Memory exhibition is divided into three main areas: ‘Family Music Stories’, ’33 RPM Time Machine’, and ‘Music Experience Area’. These recreate the moments, important events, and songs of the Long Yuan Hsu family music gatherings under the arcade of the main house on Minzu Road. The exhibition starts from the microscopic perspective of the family and extends to musical changes that have occurred from the Japanese rule period to the present. It offers a glimpse of ordinary people adapting themselves to the currents of the times, and their passion for life that has been passed down for a hundred years.

The semi-outdoor exhibition space set up with hollow boards preserves the hustle and bustle of Lukang’s streets, while guiding viewers into a historical tunnel to listen carefully to the silent movements captured in the film negatives. Starting with Dr. Hsu Tu’s introduction of Western culture to his hometown, the curatorial team displays programs and news reports of his participation in the grandest concert in Tainan Prefecture as part of his 20 years as a violinist in the Taiwan Medical College Symphony Orchestra and his organization of the Lukang Music Research Society. Through old photographs and their stories, they meticulously outline the profound context of family members’ later music learning and appreciation. Among them is Taiwan’s well-known realist photographer Hsu Tsang-tse, who was also an instrumental music enthusiast. The Suzuki violin he once played will be featured in the special exhibition, becoming one of the highlights of this exhibition.

The X-Basic Planning team setting up the Fugue of Memory exhibition space.

Echoing the Hsu family’s music story, the wall on the other side of the exhibition space is covered with vinyl records. These musical pieces, treasured by Dr. Hsu Cheng-yuan, the honorary director of Chang-Yuan Hospital – Lukang Image Museum, not only symbolize the Hsu family’s consistent love for music but also profile the social atmosphere of Taiwan in the 1970s-1980s. The limitation of 6 songs per side of a record forms a stark contrast with the convenience of today’s music streaming platforms, yet it highlights the profound significance that each song could carry at that time.

Adjacent to this is the music experience area, equipped with cassette tapes and players. These invite visitors to personally select and play songs from a playlist. Combined with old photographs and stories spanning three generations, visitors can feel the role music played in the lives of the Hsu family and even the residents of Lukang. We sincerely welcome everyone to enter the Fugue of Memory exhibition, to listen to the eternal melodies in the flow of time, and to feel how music connects the shared memories of family, city, and era.

The music experience area invites viewers to play cassette tapes themselves and allow them to read the brief stories behind the music while listening.

Fugue of Memory – Special Exhibition of Chang-Yuan Hospital Lukang Historical Image Museum

Venue: Chang-Yuan Hospital Lukang Historical Image Gallery (No. 194, Zhongshan Rd., Lukang Township, Changhua County)

Opening Date | November 13, 2024 (Wednesday)

Opening Hours | Wednesday to Friday 11:30-17:30 / Saturday to Sunday (including holidays) 11:00-18:00

Ministry of Culture, Changhua County Cultural Affairs Bureau

Curating Units | Honorary Director Dr. Hsu Cheng-yuan, X-Basic Planning Co., Ltd.

CDIB Capital Regional Revitalization Action Implementation Plan

Since the launch of the CDIB Capital Regional Revitalization Action Implementation Plan in 2023, X-Basic Planning has been commissioned by CDIB Capital and HAYASHI office to implement this project for two consecutive sessions. We are honored to work with the project director, Professor Lin Cheng-i, to promote the concept of local revitalization. We accompany local teams from all corners of Taiwan to gradually realize their visions, and developing innovative and sustainable business approaches derived from local cultural contexts.

For X-Basic Planning, a building is not merely an inorganic structure of bricks and tiles, but an organism carrying urban culture, constructing the spatial characteristics of each neighborhood as they evolve through the ages. However, imbalance and changes in urban and rural development are causing many landscapes to quietly disappear, with complex factors such as changes in the industrial environment and weakening sense of identity playing key roles—therefore, we view old houses as carriers of local potential, believing that their ‘rebirth’ should be closely integrated with local contexts, thereby forming a mutually beneficial cycle.

This year, we continue to prioritize the spirit of “Not finished yet, standing together. Being there, going the extra mile.” Through planning workshops, reading clubs, market activities, and site visits, we incorporate the experience accumulated by our team in promoting regional revitalization, aiming to reconnect places, people, and spaces, and together rediscover the abundant vitality of the land.

The project team with HAYASHI office CEO Lin Cheng-i (second from right, back row) and X-Basic Planning Director Hsiao Ting-hsiung (third from right, back row) at the mid-term workshop.
This session’s consensus meeting was planned by Tsai Yu-Hsuan, Director of X-Basic Planning’s Interdisciplinary Planning Department.

This year’s project teams focus on diverse issues, including local food culture promotion, beehive design, traditional craft transformation and revival, and reuse of fishing industry waste. During the implementation period of over five months, the X-Basic team has consistently provided assistance as ‘companions,’ inviting experts from various fields as mentors, building capacity through site visits, empowerment courses and workshops, and developing new approaches through brainstorming processes.

Although most teams initially adopted an independent implementation model, this time, beyond the existing workshops and charity days, the reading club specially arranged by Professor Lin Cheng-i unexpectedly facilitated actual exchanges and subsequent collaboration between teams. In addition, we invited the previous participating team Pan Tun International to share their implementation experience, passing on the sustainable spirit and practical knowledge of the project to this year’s partners.

Beyond organizational empowerment and local networking, the ‘social impact’ that the Local Revitalization Action Implementation Plan can bestow upon teams is also a major focus. For this purpose, KGI Financial Group has held charity markets for two consecutive years, with X-Basic Planning helping to invite teams, allowing products developed with everyone’s dedication to be showcased. This year’s charity day market with the theme of ‘Local Revitalization’ similarly launched on the last Friday before Christmas, with various teams transforming their passion for the land into creative products and cultural experiences, conveying the uniqueness and beauty of various parts of Taiwan through concrete actions.

We sincerely thank CDIB Capital Group and HAYASHI office for their invitation, allowing X-Basic Planning not only to care for urban and rural issues with our professional expertise but also to actually participate and work alongside local teams. Although we faced many challenges during this period—such as coordinating the schedules of CDIB Capital staff, mentors, project partners, and the X-Basic team, which was a major undertaking, with the effort spent on communication and coordination often exceeding expectations—it was precisely through these solid interactions that we were able to witness up close the difficulties of local regeneration, thereby conserving the precious momentum of the participating teams.

Among these, Tong Li Seafood proposed a recycling project for abandoned clam shells, which left a deep impression on Tsai Yu-hsuan, the Director of Cross-disciplinary Planning Department who was responsible for implementing this project at X-Basic. The sisters who run the business maintained their original intention throughout the project period, simply based on the spirit of environmental sustainability, repurposing waste from aquaculture into products such as diffuser stones, coasters, and eco-friendly cat litter, rather than viewing it as a means to pursue commercial interests. Their attitude of maintaining passion for their core business is admirable.

Project teams brainstorming during the workshop.

Reflecting on the experience of implementing two sessions of the project, X-Basic Planning has always focused on its role as a connector and facilitator. Through actual participation, X-Basic has begun to consider the possibility of deeper involvement in planning in the future. That all the effort and cultivation ultimately received recognition from CDIB Capital executives is the most direct encouragement and support for X-Basic colleagues, making all challenges particularly meaningful.

The dedication of ten project teams has injected endless regenerative energy into various parts of the island, allowing the public to see how place names and memories about to be forgotten beneath the rapidly changing faces of cities, countryside, rivers, and forests can find their footing in contemporary society. The CDIB Capital Local Revitalization Action Implementation Plan is not a phase-based task, but a long-term journey toward cultural and environmental sustainability. We look forward to witnessing more creative seeds rooted in the land sprouting and thriving in the future, becoming an ecological network that shelters the local environment and supports the coexistence of all living things.

Maoao Stone House Preservation and Regeneration Project

In October 2022, the X-Basic team and the local Maoao team Guarding the Far East – Magang, Maoao jointly assisted Mr. Jiang Mingxian, the owner of Maoao stone houses at 28 Fulian Street and 15 Fuxing Street, in obtaining the Maoao Stone House Stars Preservation and Regeneration Project. On October 17th, under the “accompanying” ambiance of a typhoon, a groundbreaking ceremony for the stone house restoration project was held in the wind and rain. During the preparation for the ceremony, the X-Basic team members warded off wind and rain in order to light the incense in the northeast monsoon. They also worked together to hold up the groundbreaking banner, sincerely praying for the safety and smoothness of the upcoming project.

Stone houses are fishing village settlements in Taiwan’s northeast coast, built with local stone materials to adapt to the natural environment. Key features to preserve include the withstanding the northeast monsoon and ocean surf, the artistic quality reflecting the local environmental colors, and the cultural significance containing the fishing village’s developmental history. Although the environment of the fishing village was harsh in the past, neighbors would always help each other. From the construction of stone houses, daily fishing and harvesting, to the procession activities of the local Liyang Temple, life in the stone house settlement was always carried out together.

For the X-Basic team, accompanying the stone houses from field investigation and project application to groundbreaking has been the same. We have experienced Maoao’s extreme heat and cold winters together with the local team and the homeowners, never missing the story of any stone or tile. On the day of the groundbreaking ceremony, the timely northeast monsoon allowed everyone to experience something of the daily life of local residents, while also evidencing the resilience of the stone houses, which remain standing in the wind and rain even with only one wall left.

In the future restoration project, the X-Basic team will transform this wall that has withstood wind and rain into stronger stone houses. This will create new spaces for local residents but also, through innovative planning and use, allow the features and stories of the stone houses to continue to be built upon, just like the stones that have been piled up generation after generation.

Taipei City Cultural Heritage Preservation and Maintenance Honor Award

The preservation and maintenance of cultural heritage is like a sword that takes ten years to sharpen. Whether it’s the careful restoration of each brick and tile, or heartfelt co-creation within the community, these achievements don’t happen overnight—the core driving force comes from the constant dedication of the operators, as well as the formulation and implementation of management and maintenance plans. In 2024, X-Basic Planning, which has long been concerned with cultural heritage preservation issues, was fortunate to put its philosophy into practice when invited by the Taipei City Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs to help organize the Third Taipei City Cultural Heritage Preservation and Maintenance Honor Award (hereafter referred to as the Honor Award). Through the planning of this award, we not only expressed affirmation for the many outstanding cultural heritage sites in the Taipei area, but also focused our attention on those who have made significant contributions to preservation, revitalization, and promotion, learning valuable preservation experiences and approaches from them.

After cultural heritage sites are completely restored and reopened to fanfare, it’s the seemingly routine and trivial daily operations are actually the key to extending the life cycle of the buildings. If X-Basic Planning’s assistance to the Cultural Affairs Bureau in executing Historic Sites and Historic Buildings Management and Maintenance Evaluation for two consecutive terms is a macroscopic examination of the current state of domestic cultural heritage preservation, then this Honor Award uses a more delicate, city scale to observe how cultural heritage brings positive changes to neighborhood landscapes and cultural life, and records every intriguing detail. From preliminary selection and on-site inspection to in-depth interviews and an award ceremony, we have witnessed the passion and perseverance of countless cultural heritage guardians, and hope to outline the profound meaning and complete profile of the Honor Award through this article.

The Cultural Heritage Protection Site

Professor Li Chien-lang (second from left) offers suggestions on the development and operational direction of the museum.

This Honor Award is divided into three categories: Preservation and Restoration, Management, Maintenance, and Promotion, and a Special Contribution award. These are awarded to those who have demonstrated excellence in space restoration, planning and design, and construction supervision; exceptional performance in management, maintenance, and operational promotion; and significant contributions to preservation and promotion. After the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s initial screening of participating cases, we invited 11 experts in the field of cultural heritage to serve as evaluation committee members for the secondary review, on-site inspection, and final selection, ultimately selecting the winning and shortlisted units.

During the on-site inspection process, restoration teams, management units, and property owners provided on-site presentations and guided tours, allowing the evaluation committee to gain an in-depth understanding of the current status of the cultural heritage and conduct comprehensive assessments and exchanges. Subsequently, the committee members provided suggestions and scores based on their on-site observations and professional judgment. Through on-site questions and discussions, committee members and restoration teams or management units jointly explored practical issues encountered in cultural heritage preservation and maintenance, and proposed adjustment recommendations, future development visions, and concrete, feasible plans to address these challenges. This series of interactions and exchanges provided the participating teams with the most direct feedback and gains.

The Taipei Confucius Temple Management Committee led the evaluation committee members, Taipei City Government team, and X-Basic Planning on a site visit to the facility, explaining daily management and maintenance details as well as operational promotion features.

Documenting Guardianship Principles

During the implementation of the Honor Award, the X-Basic Planning team used photographs and videos to record every moment, from the secondary field inspection and case interviews to the award ceremony. Alongside, X-Basic Planning produced case achievement videos for this year’s award-winning units through interviews and filming, showcasing the beauty of these outstanding heritage buildings through these videos, while also hoping to record and pass on the precious preservation principles of these cultural heritage guardians.

Before interviewing the award-winning cases, X-Basic Planning always conducted detailed planning and extensive discussions, customizing interview outlines and shooting scripts for each case, and invited professional photography teams to conduct filming at various sites. During the filming process, we observed the dedication and attentiveness of many cultural heritage management units, who not only focused on video production but also remained mindful of the safety and experience of on-site visitors. These most ordinary and authentic interactions and responses, although not presented in the final video results, are precious details that we will never forget.

The Taiwan Literature Base, an award winner in the management, maintenance, and promotion category of this year’s Honor Award, consists of 7 Japanese-style dormitories located at Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 of Lane 53, Qidong Street and Nos. 25, 27 of Section 2, Jinan Road. The Taiwan Literature Base is dedicated to the inheritance of culture and literature and adheres to a high degree of professionalism and meticulous operation in daily management and maintenance.
The award-winning subject of this year’s Special Contribution Category – Li Lin-chiu’s House is currently undergoing interview filming. In the photo, Mr. Li Hsiu-chien (far right), son of Taiwan’s renowned lyricist Li Lin-chiu, can be seen. He has spared no effort in preserving the former residence and promoting Taiwanese folk songs, making Li Lin-chiu’s Former Residence not only restore history but also carry Taiwan’s values and selfless spirit, exemplifying the Special Contribution Category of the Cultural Heritage Commendation Award.
This year’s Management and Promotion Category winner, Beitou Public Bathhouse, now the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, with Director Chung Chao-chia (far left) completing the day’s filming in a professional and efficient manner.

The X-Basic team also took this opportunity to further understand the challenges and difficulties these award-winning units experienced in the process of cultural heritage preservation. For example, the large-span Liba steel frame inside China Film Studio A was once a hot point. The team brainstormed how to keep the steel frame from deforming while maintaining its original appearance and stability troubled the restoration architects, structural engineers, and construction team for a long time.

Besides restoration challenges, the unexpected encountered at restoration sites. During the restoration process of Taipei No. 1 Girls’ High School (Kuangfu Building), the restoration team originally planned to repaint the wooden wainscoting in the conference room. Later, through a small paint removal test, the construction team discovered that the original color and profile details of the wood panels were completely preserved at the bottom layer. After research and discussion between the architects and the construction team, they ultimately decided to strip all the paint from the wood, applying only a layer of protective varnish to preserve the most original style and details of the wood.

This year’s Preservation and Restoration Category winner, China Film Studio A and Recording Studio, with restoration team architect Hsu Yu-chien (far left) and Chang Sheng Construction manager Li Cheng-ping (second from left), who had numerous discussions about how to restore the large-span steel truss structure in the early stages of restoration. Architect hsu Yu-chien recalled: “Fundamentally, implementing modern high-tech reinforcement methods in historic monument restoration presents a significant challenge for heritage restoration teams.”
Gang Cheng Construction is the restoration team for this year’s Preservation and Restoration Category winner – Taipei First Girls’ High School. On the day of filming, Chairman Chang Chen-yu was invited to personally explain the journey of the restoration process for us. Chairman Chang believes that the spirit of cultural heritage is preservation, and as a construction company, their mission is to preserve its cultural value and gradually uncover its original appearance during the restoration process. He states: “The more buildings I restore, the more buildings I preserve.”

Polishing Past Glory Through Diverse Actions

After the second-round site inspection, final selection meeting, filming and interviews with winning organizations, this year’s Honor Award ceremony was held on November 11, 2024, at the Minglun Hall of Taipei Confucius Temple. The ceremony included an opening performance, award presentations, and video screenings that gave actual recognition to all winners and finalists and established exemplary models for those interested in cultural heritage preservation in the future.

Group photo of the 3rd Taipei Cultural Heritage Preservation and Maintenance Honor Award ceremony.
This year’s Honor Award featured an exquisite newspaper jointly designed and produced by X-Basic Planning and Shiyi Creative Design Consulting Co., Ltd. It introducing the award review process, trophy design, achievements of winning and shortlisted cases, and comments from evaluation committee members.
The souvenir Honor Award Pancake was designed with the concept of a “medal” as its inspiration.

In addition to the award ceremony, we also continued to promote the diversity of cultural heritage preservation and maintenance through multiple lectures and exhibitions. The exhibition opened on the day of the award ceremony, focusing on introducing this year’s Honor Award winners and finalists, with interactive installations and exhibits from various cases. As the Taipei Confucius Temple venue is a tourist attraction, X-Basic Planning also thoughtfully prepared English introductions for visitors to browse. Furthermore, we organized three series of lectures for this year’s Honor Award winners and related teams, with topics including the reuse and management of old houses, the journey of preserving one’s own residence, and experience sharing from historic site restoration companies, allowing the public interested in cultural heritage preservation and restoration, old house revitalization and reuse issues to gain a preliminary understanding of this professional field through these activities.

As the Taipei Cultural Heritage Preservation and Maintenance Honor Award reaches its third edition, X-Basic Planning is honored to serve as the executive team this time, participating in the second-round site inspections, video filming interviews, and award presentation processes alongside many seniors in the field. As mentioned at the beginning, the preservation and maintenance of cultural heritage can be described as a decade-long process of honing a sword. From restoration and reuse to subsequent management and maintenance, each link requires long-term accumulation and joint efforts from all sectors. We hope that through the Heritage Award, more people will recognize the work of heritage preservation activists and the special significance of old buildings in contemporary cities can be preserved.

The X-Basic Planning team poses for a group photo outside the venue of this Cultural Heritage Award ceremony.