After many phases of diverse political, cultural and economic evolvements and fusions, Taipei City has developed unique street and roadway networks, architectural structures and lifestyles that differ from those in other cities; at the same time it also expresses its own metropolitan personality and humanistic views. The Taipei City Government has for many years committed itself to the conservation of historic relics, urban renewal and industrial reinvigoration projects, thereby exhibiting a multifaceted urban personality of“traditions and modernity,”“technologies and culture.”“locality and internationalization.”These are the invaluable urban assets shared by every Taipei City citizen, and footstones that pave the way for Taipei's future development. Chapter 2 Urban Development
Transcript
After many phases of diverse political, cultural and economic
evolvements and fusions, Taipei City has developed unique street
and roadway networks, architectural structures and lifestyles that
differ from those in other cities; at the same time it also expresses
its own metropolitan personality and humanistic views. The Taipei
City Government has for many years committed itself to the
conservation of historic relics, urban renewal and industrial
reinvigoration projects, thereby exhibiting a multifaceted urban
personality of“traditions and modernity,”“technologies and
culture.”“locality and internationalization.”These are the
invaluable urban assets shared by every Taipei City citizen, and
footstones that pave the way for Taipei's future development.
Chapter 2 Urban Development
Taipei City is the political and economic center of Taiwan, with intense and bustling commercial activities. In this day and age where urban competitiveness is gradually
replacing national competitiveness, cities around the world are inevitably facing challenges triggered by globalization. These challenges undoubtedly mark a vital juncture for Taipei City to leap to international superstardom. Moreover, due to the swift changes in the nation's political and economic circumstances and industrial structures, Taipei City has put forth a more flexible spatial utilization program and development project to cater to the demands of the high-tech community and enhance its urban competitiveness. As a metropolis featuring the most intense and frequent cultural activities in Taiwan, the city showcases its distinctive styles and allure to the world through effective heritage preservation, reuse, and the promotion of cultural activities.
Part1 Urban Prospects in the Age of Globalization
1. Regional Cooperation(1) The Cross-Regional Collaboration of Eight Counties and Cities in Northern Taiwan
Since 2003 the Taipei City Government has been actively promoting the integration of resources with respect to regional development to strengthen Northern Taiwan's urban competitiveness in the world. It jointly established“the Northern Taiwan Regional Development Promotion Committee”with the eight administrative districts of Northern Taiwan: Yilan County, Keelung City, Taipei County, Taoyuan County, Hsinchu County, Hsinchu City, and Miaoli County. Domestically, the Committee aims at augmenting collaborations and resource-sharing among the counties and cities; and on the international front it targets upgrading the Northern Taiwan region's global urban competitiveness. Acting on the overall regional objectives and prospects, the committee plans to attain several goals, including:A.Upgrading regional competitiveness and the joint promotion and marketing of Northern Taiwan's
regional personalities, B.The enhancement of lifestyle quality, C.Collaboration on functional issues, D.Departmental resource integration and sharing among counties and cities,E.The advancement and joint construction of infrastructure undertakings.
Within the Northern Taiwan Regional Development Promotion Committee, these eight administrations conduct extensive discussions and collaboration efforts on leisure and travel, communications and transportation, industrial development, environmental resources, disaster prevention and security maintenance, culture and education, health and social welfare, aborigines, the Hakka community and new immigrants. In 2008, it was the Hsinchu and Taipei City Governments' turn to design and host“the Northern Taiwan Counties and Cities Development Achievements Exhibition”and“the 2009 State and Regional Development and Promotion Seminar”to review the various regional cooperation experiences and attainments. The Host County and City's Takeover Ceremony.
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(2) Taipei Metropolitan CooperationIn addition to actively promoting and participating in regional development integration, due to their
geographic proximity and common living environment, Taipei City, Taipei County and Keelung City in the Greater Taipei Area also jointly host cooperative enterprises dealing with urban development issues, experience sharing and various county and city collaborative projects. After many meetings and discussions, in 2008, nine action initiatives were launched, focusing specifically on urban renewal training and urban planning experience sharing. On one hand, it is hoped that by means of county and city cooperative projects, human resource exchanges and experience sharing in urban planning, urban renewal and urban design commissions may be upgraded; on the other hand, experience sharing and learning devoted to urban planning, urban renewal policies and information technology are conducted in hopes of making Taipei County, Taipei City and Keelung City great places to live, work, enjoy leisure activities and an eco-friendly district, jointly creating a diverse and quality Greater Taipei Metropolis.
2. Ecological Environment(1) The Urban Ecological Community
By means of a public screening process, the Taipei City Government selected three Community Empowerment locations, the Jiantan, Mingxing and Quanyuan ecological communities, to fulfill its ecological community vision. Spatial and ecological environments are improved step-by-step, using the community as a basis, and introducing this model to every community, achieving sustainable development of the human society and ecological environment, and ensuring its penetration into Taipei City's every corner, making it one of the goals of Taipei's future urban environment reform endeavors.(2) The Brightening and Greening Campus Makeover Project
The project aims at consolidating a consensus between schools and the communities to tear down cement walls and replace them with green structures that improve the campus outlook. In addition to upgrading the campus's ecological environment, the project also bridges the distance between schools and communities.“Brightening”signifies the makeover of campus walls to lighten up dark corners;“greening”indicates environmental improvement utilizing an ecological approach;“campus”refers to school faculty and students who actively partake in the project;“makeover”specifies the overhaul of the campus outlook. A total of 18 primary, middle and high schools in Taipei City signed on for the project as teachers, students and communities worked hand-in-hand to map out fence designs. Campus fences were improved to ensure carbon reduction, while implementation of urban greening is being widely disseminated, starting from campuses. Schools,
Residents in the community outline their vision and portray an ecological map.
A model of an ecological campus fence (Xinsheng Elementary School).
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students and communities thus increase their interaction levels, instilling the significance of urban environmental improvements into the hearts of educators and children, so that ecological preservation and energy-saving concepts become deeply rooted in the younger generation.
(3) Tree-Planting Project along Community Residential StreetsTo fulfill the vision of creating an Ecological City and Sustainable Development, i.e., creating an
urban environment where man and nature coexist in harmony, the Department of Urban Development, the Taipei City Government proposed shade tree planting along community residential streets (roadways of 8 to 15 meters in width) throughout the cities and greening projects as part of“the 2008 Annual Community Planning Service Center's Competitive Program – Tree Planting in Community Alleyways.”After evaluating the feasibility of pipeline arrangements and various property right issues, 12 locations were chosen from among the communities' proposals. Eco-friendly greening was enhanced on roadways and community alleyways as demonstrative tree-shaded lanes. Urban metabolic functions and biodiversity were bolstered through these greening projects, furthering the city's habitability and residents' living quality. The project works in coordination with“the 2010 Taipei International Gardening and Horticulture Exposition”to increase greening and reduce the fixed amount of carbon dioxide, creating a friendly urban environment for both humans and nature, while implementing citizen participation into ecological community building and sustainable development management.
A Cross-Section of a Model on Tree Planting in Community Alleyways.
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3. Quality Living Environment(1) Public Environmental Renovations along Major Arteries
With a v iew to c rea t ing a“humanis t i c -oriented”public environment, the Department of Urban Development conducted successive environmental renovations between 2005 and 2007 on Zhongxiao East Road, Roosevelt Road and Xinyi Road. A“Leisure Living Avenue”has thus been created by virtue of pedestrian space renewal projects, including roadway pavement repair, art deco installations at key intersections, the greening of sidewalks and improved streetlamp illumination, fashioning Taipei into a Humanistic City to achieve“LOHAS”living in Taipei.
The Department of Urban Development acted in accordance with the administrative objectives l isted in the Municipal White Paper:“creating smooth, safe, pleasant and humanistic traff ic conditions”and“building an urban landscape rich in regional charm”, thereby improving sidewalk pavement quality to increase pedestrian space, while working in coordination with the planned pavement restoration works as part of the MRT Songshan Line project that is currently under construction, and conducting landscape renewal on Nanjing East and West Roads. The main objective is the effective use of urban activity space and the overall spatial design, while ensuring the smooth flow of vehicular traffic. Also, as commute transfers decrease carriageway traveling, the department has reviewed related measures and street repair and renovation designs for the purpose of enhancing unobstructed traveling, sidewalk and bikeway spaces, streetlight illumination and greening projects. The intention is to create a construction design benchmark for future sidewalk and pavement restoration projects after the completion of the MRT Xinyi and Songshan lines, thereby bringing to fruition the vision of making Taipei a humanistic, hospitable and friendly city. (2) Forging the MRT Danshui Line's Corridor Space
The north side of Minquan West Road Station on the MRT Danshui Line is elevated from the underground, forming a long overpass and plane surface, stretching down to Taipei County's Danshui Station. In addition to the usual urban scenes, the stretch is lined with awe-inspiring landscapes, including majestic mountains, breathtaking waterfront scenes, and enchanting sunsets at Guandu. With all this in mind, areas where the line of vision can reach on both sides of the MRT Danshui (from Minquan
A scale model of improved spatial conditions across Xinyi Road.
East of the south-side sidewalk between Xinyi Road and Fuxing South Road.
A scale model in the Shilin demonstration area that looks out on the corridor from a passenger's point of view.
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West Road Station to Danshui Station) Line have been included for corridor space review. The overall spatial structure design in the peripheral areas and urban design criteria control systems are taken into account to map out section-based, urban design principles and control purview. The Shilin/Jiantan, New Beitou, Danshui MRT Stations and regions along the line are listed as demonstrative areas to define urban spatial structure along the Danshui Line, striking a balance between protecting the city's natural scenic conservation areas and furthering urban development. (3) Smooth Pedestrian Walkways: Renovating the Arcades
An advanced city is built upon“humanistic-oriented”principles. With that in mind, Taipei City pioneered the country in“arcade renovation”in order to provide a pedestrian-friendly walking space. Arcade leveling and repair is being conducted on the city's 170,000-meter-long (about 110,000 meters are in need of repair) corridor. Special attention is being paid to terminals, scenic spots, business districts, and hospitals for repair work over an extended period of time in a radiative, linear and entire-surface system.
As of 2008, 80,000 meters of corridor space were improved. The total length of renovation has now reached 80,000 meters, providing a smooth, beautiful and comfortable pedestrian space for people on the go. Renovation of the remaining 30,000 meters will be completed by the end of 2009.
4. The 2010 Taipei International Gardening and Horticulture ExpositionThis particular fair is Taiwan's first exposition to be internationally authorized and recognized. The
fair also makes Taiwan and Taipei to become the fourth Asian country and seventh city to be officially authorized by the Association Internationale des Producteurs de 1'Horticulure (AIPH). The site includes Yuanshan Park, Taipei Art Park, Xinsheng Park and Dajia Riverside Park, a total of 91.8 hectares of area to accommodate fifteen exhibition showrooms. The Exposition is themed,“Floral Colors, Flowing Water and New Vision,”showcasing Taiwan's gardening and horticultural strengths, cultural and artistic highlights, attention and support for the environment, ecosystem, and high tech achievements.
The 2010 Taipei International Gardening and Horticulture Exposition is the first fair to be held concurrently in downtown, park and waterfront areas. It features a waterfront entrance – a pioneering move among international fairs. The exposition will kick off in November, 2010 and end in April, 2011. It is estimated that the exposition will generate over six million visitors, and more than NT$11 billion in overall revenue. The organization of th is exposi t ion is a confirmation of Taiwan's horticulture attainments, and a great venue for showcas ing Ta iwan ' s diversified floral culture, g iv ing a boos t to the domest i c hor t i cu l tu re industry. The additional support for educational, c u l t u r a l a n d a r t i s t i c activities and the raising of environmental protection, energy-saving and carbon reduction awareness are invaluable.
A scale model of the showroom of the 2010 Taipei International Gardening and Horticulture Exposition in Xinsheng Park.
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Part2 The Expression of Multifaceted Urban Allures
1. Building Urban Waterfront Areas(1) Gongguan Waterfront New World
Gongguan Waterfront New World is an extension of the“Reinvigorating the Danshui River”urban waterfront projects in coordination with the Water Park's Phase 2 Water Experience Area, Gongguan Waterfront Plaza, and the branch line of the hiking trails. A waterfront tourist attraction belt was created by building pedestrian walkways and bikeways, linking the Hakka Cultural Park, National Taiwan University's Shuiyuan Campus, the green areas along the riverside, the Gongguan commercial district and Baozangyan Historic Village. In 2008, at Gongguan Waterfront New World part of the fence surrounding the Water Park was removed to highlight the impression of an entrance to and introduction of tourism facilities. Guting Riverside Park was now revamped into an exquisite garden. For 2009 and 2010, expansion of tourism spots along National Taiwan University and Gongguan Waterfront New World are planned which would turn the parking lot on Tingzhou Road, section 3 into a pedestrian walkway and bikeway, adding embankment crossing facilities for bikes to link up with Riverside Park. By opening up and transforming the public properties in Gongguan Waterfront New World, we hope to effectively integrate regional tourism resources to encourage waterfront activities and create new business opportunities for the region, thereby building the south side of Taipei City into a waterfront tourist hotspot. (2) Huanhe North Road's Garden Gallery Project
To address the concerns of flood prevention and traffic demand, Taipei City's Huanhe North Road was installed with embankments. The embankments together with the heavy traffic blocked public access to waterfront activities, and negatively impacted the landscape along the riverbank, community activities and commercial development. The Department of Urban Development proposed a preliminary embankment crossing and overhead gallery system as part of Huanhe North Road's overall future development package, and conducted essential design work for the gallery. The Garden Gallery will cover the stretch from Civic Boulevard to National Highway No. 1 on Huanhe North Road. Construction project includes: the form of the Garden Gallery, and the location and structure of pillars, among others. It will incorporate the restructuring of the overall urban spatial design, the design of the embankment and take into account ecological protection. In the future, the area will be integrated into urban planning, urban reforms and the construction of demonstrative embankment-crossing projects which will provide public access to the waterfront and a river panorama, thereby creating an urban spatial imagery of a Garden Gallery, executing ecological preservation planning, boosting waterfront activities, and rebuilding and reinvigorating decrepit part of town. (3) Improving the Illumination of Riverbanks and Streets
In recent years the Taipei City Government has been devoting a great deal of effort to public infrastructure projects along the banks of the Danshui River and the Xindian River (from Guandu Wharf
Construction of the Water Park's water experience area.
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to Zhongzheng Bridge) in hopes of enhancing water accessibility and landscape diversity in waterfront areas. A lack of planning with respect to illumination has resulted in a failure to highlight the beauty of the overall nightscape. To upgrade the general night view along the river and renovate nighttime illumination in both the new and old communities, nighttime illumination improvements have been conducted along the Danshui River. Special attention is being paid to“embankments”and“evacuation gates (water valves)”for this specific project. Also, strategic nighttime illumination improvements have been completed with the placement of streetlamps along bikeways, by Guandu Temple, Guandu Bridge, the Machangting Evacuation Gate (water valve), Machangting Memorial Park and Tengyun Flyover. Landscape improvement designs are being conducted on major road sections, such as Section 3 of Heping West Road and Minsheng West Road, to create the impression of an entranceway and axis of activity spots. In the future, Taipei City's nightscape will be upgraded by incorporating nighttime illumination designs at locations along the river and in rundown communities, transforming them into international scenic spots. (4) Waterfront Corridor
To improve the waterfront area of the Danshui River to enable the public to get to know the river, enjoy views of the river view and appreciate the river's beauty, information was collected-concerning the cultural, historic and environmental landscape on the neighborhoods surrounding the various gates along the Danshui River, the Keelung River, the Jingmei River, and the Xindian River to analyze the potential for development. To date, the Jingmei, Longshan, Meiti and Machangting waterfront corridors have been selected. A cozy pedestrian and bikeway space has been constructed by linking up various public transportation intersections and water gates. Distinctive waterfront activities signs have been installed to offer the public diverse waterfront leisure activity options.
2. Distinctive Local Features(1) The National Palace Museum Treasure Avenue
The National Palace Museum (NPM), Yangmingshan National Park, the Shilin Presidential Residence and the Shilin Night Market boast a wealth of cultural relics, cultural scenic spots, tourism resources, ecological features and a network of green areas. They are regarded as Taipei City's crucial landmarks and major domestic and international tourist attractions.“The National Palace Museum Treasure Avenue Project”has been launched to link the National Palace Museum, natural sites and artistic spaces in order to create a tourism axis with conspicuous highlights. The NPM's unique
A scale model of pedestrian and bikeway paths along the Waterfront Corridor.
Nighttime illumination improvement along the riverbank - simulated nightscape by Guandu Wharf.
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image serves as the centerpiece. It is nestled in a distinctive roadway network to underscore its image as the city's most valuable treasure. Comprehensive spatial designs will connect the neighboring tourism resources in boosting local industrial, economic and cultural developments. The project includes: an overall environmental renovation and image structuring of strategic spots, plus nighttime illumination improvements. The former consists of sidewalk renovations, the inter-connection of strategic spots, the inclusion of NPM, the integration of neighboring tourism resources, spatial divisions and ecological preservation which will strengthen the overall urban design. A narrative undertone and continuity of this urban axis is accentuated. The latter includes nighttime illumination improvements, unifying streetlamp facilities and signage posts, fashioning a nightscape theme and creating a distinctive ambiance. These projects are expected to delight the public and offert them a panoramic experience of Taipei City, while offering them a safer and more distinctive traveling space. (2) Environmental Improvements on Qitiaotong Jujiu Street
To restructure both sides of Linsen North Road and revitalize the businesses in the area, from 2004 to 2007, the“Taipei City's Distinctive Streetscape: The Linsen North Road Environmental Improvement Project”was completed, including planning, design and renovation. The results include: road pavement repair, art deco beautification at key intersections, the planting of trees, improving the illumination and relocating Taiwan Power Company transformers. In August, 2008, Taiwan Power Company relocated three substations in alleys to building basements, which clearly freed up space in the Qitiaotong area. Currently, street block organizations are being established thanks to assistance from professional design teams to effectively implement environmental renovation projects and provide for sustainable development. (3) Beitou Waterfront Park's Neighboring Environmental Planning and Design
To facilitate the Central Government's institution of the“Hot Spring Law”which has promoted the development of hot spring tourism development and refashioned the New Beitou Hot Spring Area into an international tourism hotspot, the following projects have been implemented: the MRT New Beitou Station's neighboring traffic networks have been connected, a Beitou entranceway has been created, nighttime illumination has been improved, the Hell Valley entrance imagery has been highlighted, and
A simulated project scale model for the National Palace Museum Treasure Avenue.
Qitiaotong environmental improvements on Linsen North Road. A scale model of Beitou Waterfront Park's entranceway.
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tour guide signage systems and the waterfront facilities of the Beitou River have been revamped. Tourists may now experience anew Beitou's humanistic features and hot spring culture. Three strategic spots were selected, based on a comprehensive improvement plan to conduct priority spatial improvements. These improvement projects include: the imagery at the entranceway of the Beitou Waterfront Park, nighttime illumination designs in the park's neighboring areas, and landscape enhancement of the entranceway to Hell Valley. By renovating the landscape in Beitou Waterfront Park and Hell Valley redesigning the street lamps, Beitou Waterfront Park has become a landmark and a tourism hub in the New Beitou Hot Spring area. These constructions have added a romantic ambience to this hot spring area and attracted international tourists to facilitate the development of the tourism industry in Taiwan and Taipei City.
3. The Building of a Beautiful Cityscape (1) The Promotion of Public Arts in Urban Spaces
The Taipei City Government endeavors to implement the promotion and execution of public arts. In 2008, the Taipei City Government complied with the“Public Arts Installation Provisions”to rename“the Taipei City Public Arts Review Commission”as“the Taipei City Public Arts Committee.”In addition, the City opened up public arts websites in August, 2008 to raise public awareness on public arts on a continuous basis. The City Government also channeled private resources into the art domain by organizing“the 2008 Guandu International Natural Art Deco Fair,”“the 2008 Fenleting Modern Art Exposition at Taipei's Eastside,”“Never Ending Story – the Jimi Surprise, Story Taipei”and“the 2008 Ximenting Fun Movie and Public Arts Installations”activities. These events served to solidify public and private cooperation and explore new public arts' territories.
With a view to combining public arts with urban spaces so as to promote regional public arts installation projects, Taipei City plans to conduct“the Taipei City Modern Art Museum and Art Corridor”and“Artistic Renovations on the Public Landscape Surrounding Zhongshan Hall”projects. They will help forge a modern public arts environment to encourage public participation in cultural and art activities, and ingrain public arts into the cityscape, thereby defining a unique urban aesthetic for Taipei City. (2) Advertisement Beautification
The Taipei City Government encourages districts (blocks) and apartment buildings to comprehensively replace advertisements posted in the buildings. These renovations include advertisement beautification and replacement in areas adjacent to the Taipei Main Station, the Shilin Night Market, Longshan Temple and Bopi Hut, and portions of blocks in bustling commercial districts, such as Shuiyuan Market. The old advertisements were replaced by simple, refreshing and complementary advertisements to polish the local landscapes and improve the overall environment in those areas. The project was critically acclaimed by many shop owners.
To prepare for the“21st Summer Deaflympics Taipei 2009”and the“2010 Taipei International Gardening and Horticulture Exposition,”Taipei City is stepping up efforts to renovate and replace advertisements in the city, and clamp down on illegal handbills to make Taipei's cityscape more pleasant.
Work by Hong Yi: Recollection vs. Aftertaste.
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(3) The Urban Landscape AwardsIn 2008, the 7th“Urban Landscape Awards”were held. Applications were solicited for the
theme:“New Discovery –What a Place to Be in Taipei”to communicate the spirit of“urban environmental aesthetics.”The seven award-winning entries in the following categories were: Urban Space Creativity Award –“Urban Beach on the Taipei City Government Plaza;”Urban Art Activity Award –“the 2008 Fenleting Modern Art Exposition at Taipei's Eastside;”Historic Space Reinvigoration Award –“Ximen Red House Theater's Cultural and Creativity Incubator;”Regional Commercial Street Improvement Award –“Linsen North Road Environmental Improvement Project's Overall Planning and Detail Designs;”the Waterfront Environmental Construction Award –“the Rainbow Bridge;”Waterfront Landscape Design Award –“Landscape Improvements on the Upper Platforms by Yongfu Bridge on the right bank of the Xindian River”and Web Surfers' Favorite Award –“Landscape Improvements on the Upper Platforms by Yongfu Bridge on the right bank of the Xindian River.” (4)“Face off”the City: A Colorful Makeup Movement
In 2008, the 7 th“Ta ipe i C i ty Urban Spatial Renovations –“Face off”the City: A Colorful Makeup Movement and Urban Imagery Campaign”contest was held, themed as“A New Makeover – A New Taipei.”With public participation and awards, a more diverse and more pleasant living space can be achieved to highlight Taipei's unique and high-quality residential culture. 48 applications were submitted in 2008, and 16 winners were chosen by a panel of experts and judges. The winning works featured diverse, historic, artistic, eco-friendly and high-tech motifs, showcasing the commitment and ingenuity of both individuals and community groups.
Gold in the Public Structure category – the National Palace Museum.
The Waterfront Environmental Construction Award –“The Rainbow Bridge.”
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin l isted urban renewal as a key administrative item when he took office, and established a robust urban renewal mechanism with diverse policies (reasonable capacity adjustments, enhancement of f loor area bonus incentives, and renewal procedure simplifications) to effectively promote urban renewal. Citizen participation, private organization input, and administrative and technical assistance from the Taipei City Government combined to provide a greater boost to renewal undertakings so that the living environment of residents is ameliorated, the quality and capacity of public facilities ae improved, old business circles are reinvigorated and Taipei cultural dissemination is achieved. A. Improv ing F loor Area Bonus Incent ives,
Reasonably Adjusting Urban Capacity: A review of the floor area bonus quota of the current planning criteria will lead urban renewal efforts by focusing on environmental quality, encouraging urban revival and improving environmental quality.
B. The Enactment of a Pragmatic Promotion Program for Renewal Undertakings: A pragmatic renewal undertaking promotion mechanism was enacted to implement renewal undertakings and address dilemmas in renewal promotion tasks. The government actively amends laws and simplifies administrative procedures to“fully utilize funding in encouraging renewal,”“relax renewal embarkation restrictions,”“boost floor area bonus incentives,”“simplify renewal procedures”and“elevate evaluation efficiency.”
C. Supporting Urban Renewal Programs: Urban renewal programs feature an integration of Taipei's advantages, highlighting the City's distinctive waterfront (Danshui River basin), high-tech sector (Neihu and Nangang Technology and Science Parks), vitality (Ximen Districts), humanism and culture (along Fulin Road down to Zhishan Road by the National Palace Museum), dynamism (Songshan Tobacco Factory Dome and the Culture Sports Park) and historic sites (the Dadaocheng historic sites), a rich combination of offerings that serve to solidify Taipei's future competitiveness.
(2) Urban Renewal Renovations and Maintenance Subsidies“Renovations and Maintenance”has been listed as one of the Taipei City Government's
crucial urban renewal projects. The Urban Redevelopment Office Taipei City earmarked NT$20 million as renovation and maintenance subsidies. Four projects have been approved for the subsidies of NT$16,553,000. The first project (Haishu Apartment Complex) was approved at the meeting of the Taipei City's Urban Renewal and Dispute Handling Evaluation Commission; a public hearing on planning for the
Urban Renewal Case – Taixin Financial Holding Mansion.
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second project (the Guodou Mansion) was held. Construction completion inspections were conducted on a 2007 project application (the Xuguang Mansion) in December, 2008; phase-2 fund allocation for this project has also been granted.
2. Building Landscape Landmarks(1) Beautify Taipei Projects
To encourage new uses for Taipei City's properties among private developers so as to provide more open public spaces, the Taipei City Government introduced the“Beautify Taipei”project in the beginning of 2008. The project is devoted to building groundwork sites, and the Taipei City Government began accepting applications between February 1 and October 31, 2008. A total of 48 applications were submitted; 41 were approved and recommended. Among all the approved applications, old community developments constituted19 cases (45% out of all); high-tech development projects came in second with 17 cases (40% out of all). In addition, three development projects were designated at traffic hubs and 2 at waterfront river basins. The following is a list of possible development benefits: A . 16 hectares of plaza-style open areas (equivalent to 60% of the area of Daan Forest Park).B . 2.9 hectares of pedestrian passageways. C . 3,700 meters of three-D pedestrian passageways (equivalent to 140% of the Xinyi flyover system).D . 2.6 hectares of elevated indoor open space.E . 4.7 hectares of outdoor activity space featuring a metropolitan impression.F . Private investment projects valued at NT$30 million to generate NT$60 million in revenues.G . Reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 96,560 metric tons (600 kilograms-per-square-meter over a
40-year period). H . The creation of 9,400 construction-related jobs.I . The creation of 16,000 positions after construction is completed, plus 11,900 positions for office
workers.“Beautify Taipei”successfully generated
much a t ten t ion and a g rea t number o f applications from private developers. The Taipei City Government is thus poised to promote the Beautify Taipei Projects to encourage the renovation of old building and the greening of vacant lots, thereby giving Taipei a facelift and making it truly“beautiful.” (2) The National Taiwan Museum Project
– Planning and Construction The National Taiwan Museum Project –
Planning and Construction – was commissioned to the Department of Urban Development by the National Taiwan Museum for planning, design and construction outsourcing to upgrade the museum's overall development and landscape improvement. The project will create a pleasant leisure space for the public by virtue of a well-thought-out spatial design and layout that highlight the park's rich historic and humanistic gems. The idea behind the design is to open up the existing fencing around the park to fashion an open urban landscape and travel route, and to widen the sidewalks along Xiangyang Road, north of the 228 Peace Memorial Park to create a cozier and more pleasant pedestrian
One of the Beautify Taipei Projects (the Chinatrust High-Rise).
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space. A continuous Green Belt, wooded paths and activity platforms were sited inside the 228 Peace Memorial Park to provide a quiet resting place and buffer zone. Most of the cultural relics and existing trees have been retained to foster the park's cultural flair and maintain its ecological environment. In the future, the facilities and the museum inside the park will be integrated with the existing historic relics to offer Taipei citizens a multifaceted urban living space and highlight the century-old charm of the National Taiwan Museum.
3. The Rebirth of Strategic Areas(1) Greater Taipei Neihu Technology Park
With a view to providing high-tech industries with ample development space and increasing Taipei's industrial competitiveness, urban planning modifications for the emerging development districts by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park – including the south of Dawan region as part of the Keelung River Straightening Project and Neihu's Phase 5 Readjustment District– will follow the precedent of the Neihu Technology Park's permitted use ambit. The originally rigid restraints on industrial parks were replaced by a more flexible land use control mechanism to woo information technology communities, research and development centers and industrial operating headquarters. The Taipei City Government hopes to link this particular area to the Taipei Neihu Technology Park to become Taipei City's high-tech development hub. The whole project was publicly promulgated and went into effect on August 5, 2008. (2) Redevelopment of Districts along the Nangang Railroad Underground
Due to a shift in industrial structure and the prevalence of economic globalization, factories and plants in the Nangang area began an exodus in light of a drop in rent utility and a rise in labor costs. As construction of the High Speed Railway, the Nangang Station, the Union Station and Railway Underground Projects came to fruition, large factories and plants and idle private properties demand fresh planning for reuse. The Taipei City Government thus outsourced the“Reuse and Re-planning of districts along the Nangang Railroad Underground”project in 2006, tying in with the Central Government's project to fashion a Taiwan Thinktank and recreate a whole new district outlook. Five principal programs were thus introduced to execute the“biotechnology center, a software center, an exhibition center, an art and creative center and a station center”vision. Among these programs, the Nangang Biotech Park Urban Plan was officially approved by the Taipei Urban Planning Commission in June, 2008. The Nangang Software Park and the Nangang Economy and Trade Park Urban Plan proposals were also approved by the Commission. The“Nangang Second Exhibition Hall Urban Plan”was officially promulgated in March, 2008. In January of the same year, the“Northern Taiwan Pop Music Center Urban Plan”was promulgated to tie in with the transport hub and the reviews on specific purpose district urban planning in the Nangang Station. The Taipei City Government is currently reviewing the cross-region readjustment district urban planning for the private and public properties along the railroad in hopes of elevating district environmental quality, offering essential public facilities and an industrial environment for industrial transformation and development, thereby encouraging urban rebirth in regions along the Nangang Railroad Underground Project.
The entrance of the 228 Peace Memorial Park (the corner of Xiangyang Road and Gongyuan Road).
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4. Revitalizing the Community (1) Community Planner
A“Community Planner”can basically be characterized as an individual with a professional background in urban planning and a commitment to service. Community planning is a service task and an honorable vocation. He/she acts as a liaison between the government and the people. His/her professional function and training are focused on addressing issues over public space use. Since 2001, the Taipei City Government has been organizing the selection of community planners annually to assist citizens in conducting community building. Planners voluntarily devote time and energy into community work. A task force of 57 community planners was inaugurated in 2007 on a single-commission-biannual basis, effective until yearend 2008.
Modelled after“community planners,”“youth community planners”and“community residents”participate in community building tasks on the“exchange service platform.”In 2008, the Community Planning Service Centers followed precedents to address issues in various administrative regions. These centers also encouraged local development planning to build friendly communities, waterfront passageways, green areas, and promote ‘treasures around the corner' activities to explore projects that help in implementing projects involving various types of administrative space.
The city is courting youths as well as the general public currently involved in community work, who are committed, creative, and willing to devote themselves to community planning affairs, to embark on community building and sustainable city development missions. 117 community planners were trained in 2008, and one or two of such planners are assigned to each borough. These rank-and-file planners are the driver force for Taipei's future growth.
BOT for Nangang Station.
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Taipei Yearbook 2008
(2) Audio/Video Documentaries of Community Tales To implement the visions of urban government and community participation, the Department of
Urban Development, the Taipei City Government kicked off the“Discovery Taipei, Prospect Taipei: Audio/Video Documentaries of Community Tales Project.”This allows community residents to discover the distinctive features of their neighborhoods and foster a consensus on local development through their involvement in workshops and in the storytelling process. Observations are made from different perspectives to reach out to every corner of the community. Life stories are documented that allow community residents to jointly depict a blueprint for their future. The core values and legacies continued in 2008; for the first time, community maps on a plane surface were upgraded into a multi-dimensional documentary to assist residents in rediscovering local treasures and discussing diverse issues through lively images. The nine following community documentar ies were made:“Wholesome and Aesthetic – Jiqing Community,”“The Joyful Courier of the South Airport ,”“A Wild Goose and Its Happy Partner,”“The Ecological Beauty of Guandu,”“Bonjour! Zhongxin Communi ty,”“The Lost Qidong Street,””An Ecological Green District – My Blessed Ankang,”“Sweet Osmanthus in Nangang,”and“Huian Borough – an Unadorned Gem at the Foot o f X iangshan.”These documentaries present a vista of diverse communit ies in Taipei Ci ty and touching neighborhood tales. The stories depict a broad canvas of community dynamics and vision.
ConclusionTaipei City boasts traditional industrial cultures and historic personalities. As Taipei City has
become transformed into a cultural and tourism metropolis, urban design and environmental engineering techniques have been applied to vital tourism spots, and traffic and pedestrian routes. At the same time various waterfront landscape improvements have been implemented. In the ongoing effort to attain harmony between humanity and nature, the city is moving to build a sustainable metropolis that is devoted to saving energy and reducing carbon emissions. We are attempting to strike a balance between an urban environment and nature by building up economic development, social harmony and a constructive ecological cycle. We are also commited to developing sustainable ecologically friendly constructions in order to foster a quality and humanistic living environment. In light of the swift changes in the global political and economic climates, Taipei City has welcomed cross-regional discussions by supporting the Northern Taiwan Cross-Regional Resource Integrations and Taipei Metropolitan Cooperation. At the same time, in addition to promoting the renovation of old buildings, the City has made available more flexible space for use and development, and has publicly solicited construction development projects from the private sector, increasing property use flexibility. The Neihu, Nangang, Shilin and Beitou Technology Parks were completed to meet high-tech industry demands and upgrade urban competitiveness. With its visionary determination and strategic planning, Taipei City vows to endow the metropolis with a new definition and outlook to successfully market its urban profile.
Community Story Audio/Video Documentary Certification Presentation.
