Voice of city
Thesis Project
Motivation
Nowadays, the idea of the importance of citizen participation in urban planning is increasing. There has been a trend in Taipei regarding empowering citizens to shape their neighborhoods. However, the current citizen participation strategy is not well-promoted and wildly-known among people; most residents don't have much understanding of the ongoing project in their city.
Urban planning affects people's everyday experiences. There is a growing willingness on authorities and professional planners to accept input from the public. Although they did carry out some great projects already, there isn't a suitable platform in Taipei to show the result and communicate with the public
Vision
Like many great cities who own their planning or architectural related pavilions in the world, the priority is providing an exhibition space in Taipei city for citizens to understand the history of local planning and all the critical moments in the past, as well as the most up-to-date spatial projects around the city.
Besides, setting a forum for interaction and educational-use space to encourage citizen participation, promote cooperation among the planning department, and inspire citizens and organizations’ interest of the organization is necessary.
By inputting different functions, Voice of City not can only convey the message for Taipei, but also can establish a new communication flow and feedback mechanism for urban planning. Moreover, it is expected to deliver innovative results that will be valuable for the city in the future.
Expected Urban Planning Trend
Cross-Communication
Current Urban Planning Trend
Two-way Communication
Traditional Urban Planning
Downward Communication
Government
Citizen
Government
Citizen
Citizen
Spatial-related
NGO
Government
Connections
Experience
Fund
Authority
Equipment
User Experience
Stakeholder
Site-past information
Huaguang Community 1905-2013
Huaguang community is an informal settlement composed of dormitories and self-built houses. The historical community had been established in 1905, it was once a settlement developed in the service of the Japanese prison. Over the past few decades, the old neighborhood had become a relatively affordable place for the vulnerable groups in the city center. It was located among popular tourist attractions, including the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
Since the government announced the community would be torn down as part of an urban renewal project in 2000, the residents had held several protests and activities to fight for proper relocation plans and compensation, asking the government to stop forced eviction and to revise the problematic renewal plan.
During the struggle, some students and NGO organizations joined the protest against the government, recording the whole event, and also held workshops for residents to assist them in proposing their plan and expectation for the community.
In 2013, after 12 years of disputes, the government demolished Huaguang Community without prior warning and didn't reach an agreement with the residents. The land has been empty without any construction till 2017.