Landscape Transformation and Spatial Restructuring in Historical Places-the Case of West-Gate Market in Taipei
Date Issued
2005
Date
2005
Author(s)
Jiang, Tzong-Lin
DOI
zh-TW
Abstract
When revitalizing a historical place, we are always confronted with problems of historical continuity, and have to propose a vision for its future. Therefore, we first have to understand the landscape transformation process of the place and its political, economic, and socio-cultural conditions along the way, thus hopefully, delineating a potential direction for the revitalization action. After adopting policies accordingly, we have to implement the policies by some selected means. Finally, we look over and evaluate the whole process to draw lessons for future planning efforts. In the process of restructuring a space, there are communicative processes that involve actors such as public agencies, developers, professionals and relevant citizens. These interactive results collectively determine the new appearance of the future landscape.
From the process of the case study on the Taipei’s West-Gate Market, we consider it is regretful that the West-Gate Circus, which was historically closely tied with the Market, was dismantled. It also weakens the overall image structure of the Xi-men-ding area where the Market and Circus are located. Therefore, we suggest a 3-tier conceptualization of spatial revitalization action, recommending that analysis and planning of place preservation and reuse be broadened to include the dimension of urban design, in addition to those of architectural space and human space, in order to resist the possible destruction of historical space resulting from simplistic functional considerations, such as traffic improvement policy in the case studied. Moreover, we also believe that the so-called “genius loci”, unequally composed of architectural, human and urban spatial qualities in the cultural landscape should be respected by the regeneration planers. And the planners should also thoroughly probe into the “mosaic of spaces” and to employ it as the basis of integrated place regeneration.
The different development plans for the West-Gate Market proposed during the long process of its space-restructuring reflect diverse political considerations of the three successive mayors in the changing political context. However, the final project and its implementation still cannot be deemed successful. We believe it’s mainly due to the fact that when the government is directly in charge of a functionally complicated urban renewal project, it’s subjected to constraints imposed by characteristics and nature of bureaucracy and is usually predisposed to disperse the responsibilities of planning, design, construction and management. This responsibility dispersion is harmful to the follow-up operations and management. Furthermore, during the entire process, the political pressure-sensitive administration apparatus puts unduly emphasis on outward efficiency instead of substantive long-term advantages. As a result, design and construction is usually carried out without well thought-out operational and management plans. Eventually, the anticipated commercial potential dwindles in the local political wrestling, and the overall progress of renewal can come to a halt.
Finally, we suggest that the government's urban renewal policy-making consider the characteristics of and the complex/dialectical relationship between the “space of flows” and the “space of places” in this globalizing environment, and adopt them as the basis for the planning decision-making. Additionally, we should devise mechanisms of the public/private partnership to enhance the existing institutional instruments and improve the effectiveness and integrity of future urban renewal undertakings. To preserve the valuable cultural assets of the humanly complicated context of renewal sites in Taiwan, instruments of community planning should play a role in the long-term investigation and reshaping of the environment. Regardless of the measures used, we have to demonstrate the modern-day significance of the intertwining between the “space of flows” and the “space of places”, and to insure that both manifestations coexist in harmony and prosperity
Subjects
西門市場
西門圓環
更新保存再利用
地景變遷
流動空間
地方空間
the West-Gate Market
the West-Gate Circus
preservation
regeneration
landscape transformation
flow space
local space
Type
thesis
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