[Urbanism] Metropolitan Park Development, Hsinchu, Taiwan, 2007-2008 (2)

From a Deserted Backyard to an Appealing Front Garden

In the urban planning field of Taiwan, there is lacking of consideration of non-urban planned area, rural area. Normally, it just a place for agriculture, nature and the lands waiting for being urbanized. When the urbanization pressure keeps pushing the in-between cities area, this force has gradually transformed the agriculture and nature landscape into a fragmental pieces of lands. With low economic benefit and uncertain future, farmers gradually stop farming and look for substitute jobs. Without thorough consideration, the small industries just established their factories in this in-between area. Although the one of these two city municipalities is planning to expand the city boundary toward to the river, a better considered plan should be generated in the regional scale. This site has to be defined.

Flooding Risk vs Water shortage

A serious problem caused by the urbanization is flooding risk. When the hard ground has kept expanding, the rainfall just flows through the city and flood the adjacent rural area. In the meantime, the water shortage of High-Tech industries in this region also compress the development of agriculture culture activities. The priority of water supply just belongs to the High-Tech industries.

Under these conditions, I started from defining the Regional Open Space and providing a regional perspective which is Metropolitan Park Strategy. This strategy is generated from the idea of Green Belt, Green Heart and Green Way Strategy. Once in the past, the in-between site was just the backyard of both cities where located the unpleasant industries and without careful planning. Now I try to seek the potential elements of landscape hided behind this messed situation to re-frame the landscape and city structure thus is able to avoid the unexpected developments might worsen the eco-system of this region. Keywords: Landscape Framework, Urban Extension Boundary Definition, Flooding Risk, In-between Cities Area, Paddy Field Patterns

To be continued...

[Urbanism] Metropolitan Park Development, Hsinchu, Taiwan, 2007-2008 (1)

“Nowadays, there are not many young people who would like to farm and the town is no longer flourishing as what it was looked like before.” (The Happy Rice, 2004)

Vanishing Memory The Happy Rice is a documentary film illustrating the risk of shrinking farming culture in Taiwan these days. This film inspired me to start a journey in discovering how can a urban designer contribute his/her profession in seeking a balancing design between preservation and development. I chose the regional open space in-between cities in Hsinchu Metropolitan area as my study and design area. Two main issues I tackle with are urban management and landscape design. Creating a Eco-landscape framework through the tracing memory from paddy fields patterns. Using landscape as the infrastructure to guide the conurbation process gives the spirit to it. Although my major is urbanism, the graduation project is a platform for me to combine different approaches, such as regional planning, landscape design and urban design. This study between different approaches give me a brand new perspective to perceive the city problems. So far, I pretty enjoy in the trip and I am eager to discover more.

[Urbanism] The Vision of Lusaka 2030, Lusaka, Zambia, 2007

[Group Work] MSc 2 Urbanism, TU Delft

If I didn't come to Netherlands, I wouldn't have the chance to go to Africa. In the second quarter of MSc2 Urbanism, I attended a package course which called Globalization. This package course really opened my eyes that how does the Globalization change not only the eco-system but also the economy system which seriously impact the city development. It was so difficult to me to have my first economy course in English. After every lecture I was totally exhausted and trying to review what did I hear during the lecture and the discussion. After three compact weeks full of lecture, we had a workshop in Lusaka, Zambia aiming to develop a vision for the city. This practice was full of challenging and also I learned a lot during the process with my teammates. But what I loved most, were still the people we met in Jack Compound and the adventurous trip in Zambia. Of course it is not enough to use two weeks field trip and workshop to understand the Africa context and it is even a little bit rude to proposing a vision for them. I couldn't say we make a good plan, but I only can say, after the trip, we know each other a little bit more and this also brings our heart closer.

For higher quality of pictures and the complete project of whole perspective, please go to http://picasaweb.google.com/Mutien/MSc2Urbanism02070607

[Urbanism] Urban Line-Encounter, Almere, The Netherlands, 2007

[Individual] MSc1 Urbanism, TUDelft

This is one of the strategic projects of Flavourpolder 2035. The main task of Urban Line is restructure the Almere City, to bring more vital and orientation of city life to the "rural like" city.

For higher quality of pictures, please go to http://picasaweb.google.com/Mutien/MSc1Urbanism09060207

[Urbanism] Flavourpolder 2035, The Netherlands, 2007

[Group Work] MSc 1 Urbanism, TU Delft

This is my first group project in urbanism study and also my first international cooperation experience. Culture is our main interest of the whole perspective. I really enjoyed a day we were debating what the culture is? I think on that day, every of us was enjoyed even we were not so "progressive". These two drawings I made illustrating our perspective of this region. Creating the variety in local intervention and slow down the connection in promoting the culture value for tourists. I believe, the culture brings the vitality to the land, also the recognitions of people to appreciate each other toward a better society.

For higher quality of pictures and the complete project of whole perspective, please go to http://picasaweb.google.com/Mutien/MSc1Urbanism09060207

[Artworks] I was, I am, I will be, 2000-2002

Art in my Life

1996 was a turning point to me. That year I was a Junior high school student studying in the Art Class of Chien-Hua Junior High School. To me I was not sure what shall I do in the future. When most of my classmates applied for study further in art, I just did the same. I filled the two best schools which have art class during that time. "Unfortunately" I didn't reach the standard of both of them. Although there was still another chance to have an exam later, after discussing with my teacher, I just decided to change my direction to architecture study and it is just because I was good in mathematic. Sometimes I am still wondering, if I passed the exam, what would the life be?

Architecture

After 3 years, I successfully entered the first choice of my university preference and also the major was what I had been longing for three years, yes, Architecture. These drawings are part of my schools work I like most. Although I didn't draw so much often like what I was in junior, every time I drew, my pressure was totally released in the color pouring on the canvas. the 2nd semester of my sophomore study, I was a little bit frustrated in the architecture study because I didn't know how to design and feel the space. One day, prof. Tseng invited me to have a cup of coffee, he told me how did the teacher in State taught them draw of architecture study, "Every line you draw is not only a line, but a meaningful wall. Don't let it stop immediately at the corner but extend it more, that you can feel the perspective and also give you a idea how to bring the void interacted with the solid." The day, my heart was totally opened. I can feel how big the power can bring one's thought out of his or her heart, no matter it is classical art, architecture drawing or what else. I like drawing still, though sometimes I have to use computer instead of using hands. It is always a dilemma between using freehand or computer drawing, but I am really appreciated the people who like my drawing and encourage me to draw more.