A 10km/hr Documentary

Taipei, Tainan / Infrastructure Reuse and Urban Space

Four centuries ago, Ketagalan(Taiwanese native) sailed on Tansui River by Bangka(traditional canoe). Three centuries ago, Chinese migrant cultivated, fished, and transported relying on Tansui River. One and half centuries ago, Taiwanese tea, fur, and other goods exported all over the world through the shipping on Tansui River. Today inside the embankment, God of River, who had jurisdiction over Tansui River and protected people, is watching a nine-meter high concrete wall from the temple.

Taipei, a city born from the river, was once inseparable from Tansui River. However, embankments were constructed for the safety of citizen. Residents in Taipei are forgetting that Taipei is a city of river.

The infrastructures, like embankment, caused the rupture of space and culture. The embankment cannot be toppled. However through designed space and program, people could explore the spaces crossing the embankment. We took use of the bikeway in the city to build up a documentary of Taipei. First, we identified a route from the origin of Taipei along the river to the last low-developed district of the city. The route cutting through three different areas, which are a historic center, a typical mixed-use urban area, and a small flood plain with rich mangrove ecological landscape. Second, we designed some facilities attached to existing infrastructure like embankment, viaduct, and approach road at three different spots along the route. They are built with flexible system like scaffolding. And, they connect the opposite sides of embankment. With the route and facilities, we create a documentary of Taipei which parasites in the city. Pedaling along it, bikers can experience the past, present, and future of Taipei in different speed and scale.

Spot B Forty-meter wide highway viaduct, water purification plant, nine-meter high embankment, this area is full of large-scale infrastructure people turn their blind eye to. We took use of the extraordinary spaces formed with these infrastructures and the output of the plant to design a series of space. An arboretum under the platform of purification plant is cultivated with purified water and sludge full of nutrient. A theatre under highway has astonishing columns like Greek temples. A scaffolding lookout is attached on the embankment and approach road. These spaces are at the same time the extension of the urban spaces on the opposite side of embankment.

Spot C This area consists of pier, temple, bike rental shop, and river front plaza. This is the intersection of traffic and religion. With frequent activities for different users, a flexible open space and temporary structure system are needed the most.