Tainan Axis + The Spring Becomes the Silver Winner of 2021 FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Awards
The winners of the 2021 FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Awards were announced online on 2 June 2021, with Tainan Axis + The Spring, a development project led by Tainan City Government, as the silver medal winner in the Sustainable Development Category. In addition to thanking the foreign members of the Award Committee for their recognition, Tainan City Mayor Wei-Che Huang encouraged the entire city government to strive further and improve every day, leading Tainan on its path to becoming a smart city that embraces advanced technology along with its rich culture.
Te-Liang Chuang, Director-General of the Bureau of Urban Planning, noted that Tainan Axis + The Spring, was submitted for the award competition. It is a project that starts from tidying up the aging urban environment and aims to create open public spaces, with urban revitalization in mind. Not only will the once-intimate interactions and dialogues between the waterways and the city be rekindled with town squares, grasslands, pools and ponds, but it will also restore the surrounding commercial activities and environmental quality. Both of these bold initiatives are a giant leap forward for Tainan in its journey of urban renovation and development.
Located in Tainan’s Central West District, The Spring houses the history and culture of the city’s canals, preserving the memory of when it was a harbor for canal networks that served as the basis for the city’s marine and fishing industry. The China-Town Mall, built in the 1970s, became an important commercial hub that generations of locals remember fondly. The project’s innovative designs have restored the once-close ties between Tainan and its canals by preserving part of China-Town Mall’s original structure and creating a sunken public plaza based on the idea of urban lagoons. This has become a significant waterfront space in downtown Tainan, whose urban pools and plants perfectly combine the area’s micro-ecosystem with a circular water system. It sits near the intersection of Zhongzheng and Haian Roads, and vital nodes of the two major city bus lines. It is indeed a significant landmark in Tainan’s history of urban planning, as contributions from architecture and landscaping, sustainable development, and arts and culture restore the past glory of Taiwan’s former capital and show it once again to the public.
Another part of the project is Haian Road, also an early commercial hub in downtown Tainan. The project aimed to improve street views and establish pedestrian-friendly spaces, including integrating the various structures of underground parking lots, parking spaces, visual landscapes, and venues above and below the surface. A minimalist design was emphasized, allowing people to embrace restored urban greenbelts and a newly created artistic atmosphere. After the makeover, Haian Road is now dotted with lush green plants with open views and spacious walkways in the middle, and pedestrians can enjoy their strolls in both daytime and nighttime with well-designed lighting. Last but not least, the installation of street museums has transformed Zhongzheng Road and Haian Road, imbuing the city of Tainan with limitless artistic and creative possibilities.
Mayor Huang pointed out that Tainan represents Taiwan, for it was the first city to develop on this island and carries four centuries of historical memories. By integrating the intertwined remnants of the old capital with modern development landscapes, the Tainan City Government will focus on culture and technology in the implementation of its policies of “cultural capital, industrial center, smart-tech hub, revitalized region, and a hopeful homestead,” gradually transforming Tainan and making it an international city showcasing sustainable development.
Sources: Tainan City Government
