Toward the end of the last century, Taiwan’s urban renewal mantra was effectively bulldoze and rebuild. More recently, a new paradigm has emerged: protect heritage resources and spotlight history. This successful approach is underscored by benchmark adaptive reuse projects like Huashan 1914 and Songshan cultural and creative parks in Taipei City, Pier-2 Art Center in the southern metropolis of Kaohsiung and Tiehua Music Village in the southeastern county of Taitung.
The government is taking this concept to new heights under the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program (FIDP). Large-scale heritage preservation projects are the order of the day, with many tapping rich veins of local cultural and historical resources while spurring broader community revitalization.
Launched in 2017, the FIDP is a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing Taiwan’s key infrastructure needs for the next 30 years. A key facet of the urban-rural component, designed to improve quality of life in cities and townships, is the Regeneration of Historic Sites Project (RHSP). Overseen by the Ministry of Culture’s (MOC) Bureau of Cultural Heritage, the RHSP is breathing new life into 30 locally or nationally designated historic locations. A total of NT$6.4 billion (US$206.5 million) has been allocated for these ventures through year-end 2020.
RHSP projects are targeting disparate and compelling sites like Chihkan Cultural Zone, Taiwan’s earliest urban center; Chung Hsing Cultural and Creative Park (CHCCP), formerly home to the country’s largest paper producer; the town of Daxi, a famed traditional commercial hub; Jianguo Military Dependents’ Village, one of the few such communities situated in a rural area; and the old quarters of central Taiwan’s Taichung City.
The restoration plans for these and the 25 other RHSP projects adhere to a ground-up approach. Regular and strong engagement with community groups, cultural heritage specialists and scholars ensure the facilities meet specific regional needs. Case in point is CHCCP in Yilan, northeastern Taiwan. Upon completion, it will boast an array of facilities such as a cultural and creative startup hub, an incubation center for the performing arts, and an exhibition venue showcasing relics from the county’s Hanben archaeological site.
Considered preparation as opposed to rushed completion is a central plank of the approach. Comprehensive archaeological, cultural and historical studies are in progress or have been concluded at many of the locations, with the results set to shape final project designs and restoration strategies. This is highlighted by work on Heping Island in Keelung City, northern Taiwan, where scholars are excavating the former site of Fort San Salvador, built by the Spanish in 1626. The goal is to map this tangible cultural heritage and incorporate it into wider community regeneration.
Complementing the RHSP is the MOC’s Private Old Buildings Preservation and Rejuvenation Plan. This FIDP program provides subsidies for the renovation of privately owned structures with the aim of maintaining the distinctive look and feel of traditional communities. Grants typically cover up to 50 percent of refurbishment costs, and can reach 80 percent under special circumstances. Since the launch of this initiative in 2017, about NT$600 million (US$19.4 million) has been awarded to property owners across the country.
Restoration projects under the RHSP and private buildings plan offer fascinating insights into diverse aspects of Taiwan’s culture. When viewed as a whole, they illuminate the complexity of the country’s history, from prehistoric civilizations though the arrival of European settlers in the early 17th century and the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945) to its emergence as an economic powerhouse. This captivating story will soon be told and shared with the world via cultural heritage projects under the FIDP.