Selected Works 2020 - 2024
Bachelor of Architecture
National Cheng Kung University
Taiwan: A Small Island with a Large International Impact
"Large -scale urban design should consider Small -scale physical behavior; Small-scale architectural design can be extended into Large-scale global spaces.
How to deconstruct outdated power spaces and return to citizens?
Due to geographic location, Zhongshan North Road has been an important artery in Taipei since the 19th century. However, with the changes in history, the road has gradually lost its original urban identity
This study deconstructs the historical context of Zhongshan North Road, employing a critical perspective to reinterpret the evolution of urban power spaces and the cultural meanings embedded in its streets and alleyways. It aims to redefine the lost urban identity of the historical street through minimal interventions.
- Thesis Prize, NCKU Department of Architecture
- Merit Award, TEAM20 Architecture and Planning Graduation Projects
- Best Project, The Architecture MasterPrize in Urban Design and Urban Planning
Academic Work
Type: NCKU Thesis Project
Instructor: Cheng-Luen Hsueh
Site: Zhongshan N. Rd., Taipei City, Taiwan
Year: 2022
"Errand" refers to power spaces created under political considerations, designed to showcase the nation's progress and grandeur to foreign visitors. Common planning techniques include large-scale building setbacks and Chinese-style elements. During the Japanese colonial period (1895–1945), Zhongshan North Road served as a critical avenue between the Taiwan Shrine and Taipei Walled City, akin to Japan's Omotesando. Over time, these power spaces gradually lost their urban identity.
Lots of underground passages and overpasses were constructed due to the president's commuting route, symbolizing the restriction of citizens' physical behavior by political power.
Imported goods stores initially appeared near diplomatic institutions, but as Taiwan left the UN and diplomatic missions moved out, these areas saw an influx of Southeast Asian immigrants.
The Japanese government established the first public health education hospital, and the patients' attendants or worshippers built temples beside it to seek blessings.
Due to the stationing of U.S. military forces, the alleyways developed a red-light district culture, and today, boutique streets and red-light district
"Detour" refers to the civic culture I discovered by detouring into the alleyways of Zhongshan North Road. In contrast to the outdated power spaces, the alleyways of Zhongshan North Road more authentically reflect the scale of daily life and the richness of urban living. I interpret "Detour of Errand" as a subjective reading of Zhongshan North Road, hoping to use subtle interventions to allow alleyway culture to spread or transform the outdated urban spaces.
Through the superimposition of images from multiple angles and time as a form of urban observation, the aim is to identify the most suitable intervention between power spaces and alleyway culture.
Becoming the Most Iconic Urban Street of Taipei
New heights as carriers of alleyway culture
This project aims to analyze the urban structure of Zhongshan North Road and identify four fields that respond to Taipei's rich cultural dimensions , including arts, immigration, healthcare, religion, commerce, and sexual culture. It highlights that Taipei's most iconic cultural expressions are found within its alleyways rather than along the boulevard itself.
ZS2: Inviting Habitat
Connecting local residents with immigrants through cuisine
A new form of faith mechanism integrates into urban landscape
ZS4: Transweaving Catwalk
Blur commodification of women and exclusivity boutique consumption
By introducing four layers as carriers of alleyway culture and redefining the subject-object dynamics of past urban power structures, the project aspires to make subtle interventions that transform politically controlled urban power spaces into humancentered urbanism, ultimately creating the most representative boulevard of Taipei
Closed Storefront Facades are Bring Back to City Streets
Through multiple entrances and runways, the enclosed boutique street is opened, allowing urban life to intervene.
and
The catwalk opens up the enclosed power spaces and reintegrates them with urban life.
Commodities, Models, and Pedestrians Intertwine
Commodity Box
Squares are reloaded with urban activities and commercial behaviors.
reconnects the underground boutique street with the city.
Blur commodification of women and exclusivity boutique consumption
In the past, hotels and boutique streets established their high-end consumption status as hosts to international guests through high-rise buildings, significant building setbacks, and closed entrances. Meanwhile, the adjacent alleyways fostered a red-light district culture, serving U.S. military and international quests. However, as time goes by, high-end consumption is facing challenges
This project uses a runway as an interface between the hotel and urban life, and resembles a giant commodity box encapsulating daily activities. The previously closed-off boutique street is opened, reconnecting the urban streetscape Commodities, models, and pedestrians continuously intertwine, blurring the commodification of women by the red-light district and the exclusivity of boutique consumption behaviors. Power spaces are reimagined to embrace everyday life and reintegrate with the city.
Faith Transforms into Weight
With the weight of the planting, Flowerscape comes about the vertical shift, and the faith turns out as weight.
Extension of Temple's Activities
Temple-related activities, such as Dharma assemblies and worship rituals, can be held under the flowerscape.
Stage Space
At night, it transforms into a stage for Taiwanese opera performances.
Plants Maintenance
Maintainers prune, pack plants, and hold some exhibitions in the lab.
Connect Ground and Believers The flowerscape extends along the eaves of the temple.
A new form of faith mechanism integrates into urban landscape
In the past, family members accompanying patients in hospitals would visit temples and light candles to seek spiritual solace, and they would also send floral wreaths to patients as blessings.
Soothing Flowerscape is located between the temple and the hospital. The newly established building layer extends from the temple's roof to the ground, diminishing the temple's authority, and while following tradition, it creates a new and environmentally friendly form of commemoration—plants . People use plants as a medium for blessings and giving thanks to the gods. Through taking and planting, faith becomes a part of the urban landscape This mechanism replaces disconnected memorial practices, actively intervenes in urban life, and reshapes the power dynamics between the temple, the hospital, and the people.
Multilayered Immigrant and Market Activities
The rapid movement of logistics, stage systems, and people from different countries leads to many activities.
Rapidly Moving Market Activities
The market is quite busy in the morning, and the logistics system accelerates the entire process.
Community Center
Provide immigrants with classes and events.
Indoor Market
Shifting Stage System
Event information can be quickly updated and utilized as space dividers.
Goods Conveyor
The second floor functions as storage and facilitates the exchange of food.
Shifting Stage System
Billboards are served as a space divider for events.
Conveyor becomes the
between market and storage space.
Goods Conveyor
Goods are transported to second floor through a conveyor co-constructed with air ducts.
Connecting local residents with immigrants through cuisine
The existing Qingguang Market primarily sells local food, and the surrounding area is a hub for immigrants, including Southeast Asian department stores, churches, and parks.
Market Connected to Lives of Immigrants
The new market strengthens the connection between existing immigrants and the city.
In this proposal, a highly open stage space is set up on the second floor of the existing market, equipped with a shifting stage system to host various cultural exchange activities . The newly constructed second-floor cortex serves as a shared food space , connecting local residents with immigrants through foreign cuisines. Additionally, the logistics system, integrated with air ducts, effectively links the market storage with the city. "Inviting Habitat" symbolizes the rapid international movement of people through dynamic logistics and stage spaces, while also reconstructing the power relations of immigrants along Zhongshan North Road.
This project was both a thesis proposal and a submission for the Taipei Fine Arts Museum competition
Zhongshan North Road's historical design included underpasses and overpasses to serve authoritarian rulers, limiting citizens' movements
The installation, located in a large plaza, symbolized the return of urban space to the people. Viewers entered through a sloping ramp, reversing the past physical restrictions.
The project collaborated with a sound artist who collected sounds from various city locations. These sounds created a dynamic atmosphere, allowing the audience to experience the urban imagery and memories of these places through touch, sight, and hearing.
- 1st Prize, Taipei Fine Arts Museum X-site Competition 2021
- Distinction, Taipei Design Award
- Merit Award, Golden Pin Design Award
Self Work
Type: Taipei Fine Arts Museum X-site Competition
Role: As the leader of team A4R, I primarily focus on concept development, structural analysis, architectural design, and construction.
Team: Rhea Hwang, Bing-Hao Xie (3)
Site: Taipei Fine Art Museum Plaza, Taiwan
Year: 2020-2021(Completion)
Reversing the Bodily Constraints Experienced in the Past Viewers entered the stage through a sloping ramp, metaphorically reversing the bodily constraints experienced in the past.
The installation is placed within the large-scale setback plaza, symbolizing the return of urban space to the citizens.
Sound as a Building Material
Experiencing sounds from different regions evokes urban imagery and place-based memories of each area.
The addition of vibrators allows people to perceive the sound and environment by touching the material.
Center of Stage
center of the stage is where the most intense sound is perceived.
Taiwan's political power consists of two forces: one is the bottom-up transmission of power through public participation, and the other is the political elite, elected by the majority of the people. In the design of the Presidential Library, the aim is to highlight the relationship between governance and public participation, telling the story of the Republic of China's development while shaping current democratic constitutional system.
I believe that the Presidential Library is not only a tribute to political leaders but also a representation of continuous historical change, commemorating the relationship of mutual checks and balances at the core of Taiwan's power structure. The "Endless Monument" will embody the monumental nature of the presidency and public participation through continuous exhibition spaces and public service functions.
- Honorable Mention, Taiwan Presidential Memorial Library Competition
Academic Work
Type: Taiwan Presidential Memorial Library Competition
Instructor: Cheng-Luen Hsueh
Site: Taipei City, Taiwan
Year: 2021
Taiwan's
Historical Corridor 1911-Present FL+20~350
The exhibition is organized by the order of presidents' terms, with changes in elevation separating different rooms. As new presidents are added, the layout can be easily reconfigured.
1st-5th Terms President 1947-1975 FL+350~650
10th-11th Terms President 2000-2008 FL+1250~1550
14th-15th Terms President 2016-2024 FL+1850~2170
Current President 2024-Present FL+2170~
A. Plaza
Protesters spread from the Presidential Office plaza to the site.
The gaps between the exhibition spaces create semi-outdoor areas for activities like ceremonies, reading, and leisure, offering new views of power institutions and memorial parks.
People here present their views on the progress of the country.
People participating in festivals or parades can rest for a meal here.
D. Reading Rooms
People read various forms of historical materials, and it also serves as a study space.
People can watch the ceremony and rest here every day.
How to Achieve Global Recognition while Embodying its Local Essence?
The National Museum of Taiwan History (NMTH) serves as both a gateway for international visitors and a hub for citizens to explore their history. However, the current exhibition space is limited, hindering the display of extensive research and artifacts.
Originally, the museum's main entrance was on the south, but due to the distance from the parking lot, the western entrance became the primary one, leaving the southern area, with its photovoltaic panels, unused. The Phase II proposal suggests repositioning the entrances of the three main exhibition areas toward the south, sharing a new corridor that connects history and integrates cultural exploration into daily life.
- 1st Prize, National Museum of Taiwan History Expansion Preliminary Planning
Professional Work
Type: National Museum of Taiwan History Expansion Preliminary Planning Office: AxB Architecture Studio(Jay Chiu Architects & Associates), Taiwan
Role: As a project designer in the planning and schematic design phases, I focus primarily on strategy development, site analysis, plan and diagram drawing, and rendering.
Site: Tainan, Taiwan
Year: 2023-Present
a. Three Main Exhibition Spaces
The existing special exhibition , permanent exhibition area, and archive area will be expanded into three main exhibition entities.
b. Entrance as the Key
In this proposal, all three major exhibition areas will have their entrances facing the south. This corridor not only provides a functional and comfortable pedestrian route but also serves as a historical walkway connecting the exhibition spaces and creating a lively public area.
c. Water Circuit and Greenbelt Continuity
The project combines the two water zones into one large area to promote dynamic water flow, supporting biodiversity. The southwestern parking lot will feature artificial greening, completing the circular ecological greenbelt and finishing the ecological puzzle.
A Three Main Spatial Components
Special Exhibitions/Permanent Exhibitions/Collections
D Massing Strategy
Rational Allocation and Integration with the Landscape
Disruption of Greenbelt
The parking lot has disrupted the continuity of the greenbelt.
Interruption of Waterbody
The waterbody is divided into two disconnected sections, resulting in a lack of integration.
The Unclear Entry
The
from the parking lot. Strategy
Inactivation of Water
B The Entrance Is Key
Redefine the entrance locations for each exhibition area
E Linking Aquatic Systems in a Loop
Introducing Dynamic Water for Scenic Regeneration
C Corridor of History
Linear Open-Access Public Space
F Extension of the Greenbelt
The Last Piece of the Green Space Puzzle
Unused Southern Space
Rooftop Greening
Connecting parking areas with greenbelts.
Clear Entry and Circulation
The
exhibition areas.
Water Encircle a Historical Peninsula The
The new project provide a large space for public use. Visitors can stroll through the park, enjoy lunch in the corridor, sip afternoon tea, explore the latest contemporary history exhibitions.Finally, the National Museum of Taiwan History evolves into a large park surrounded by greenery. It becomes a more approachable, land-connected national-level museum, enhancing its international visibility while preserving its regional identity!
How to face the Growing Complexity of Urban Issues?
I believe that contemporary urban designers and architects must be prepared to tackle increasingly complex challenges in the future. Beyond the traditional large-scale development mindset, it is essential to cultivate the ability for multi-scale, multi-perspective debates and iterative thinking.
In the appendix, I have included explorations from various dimensions ranging from conceptual to technical attempts. These efforts aim to broaden the scope of projects and offer more comprehensive approaches to addressing urban issues.
How Can Architecture Address Catastrophic Urban Issues?
