Taiwan, UK academics propose re-development plan for Tainan City

TAINAN, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Professors and students of National Cheng Kung University and Architecture School of Architecture Association (AA), United Kingdom, have jointly explored possible approaches to the urban development of Tainan City in southern Taiwan.

During a 10-day NCKU-AA Intensive Workshop hosted by Tainan City Government and NCKU, 12 professors and 62 students from NCKU and Architecture School of Architecture Association (AA) discussed and debated the best way to use large chunks of public properties surrounding the NCKU area for urban regeneration.

NCKU President Hwung Hwung-Hweng welcomed tutors and students of Housing and Urbanism from AA to join the teachers and students of NCKU’s College of Planning and Design at the workshop that ended on July 11.

The collaboration between NCKU and AA on railway underground project last year triggered productive discussions and this year’s theme -- on the holistic strategies for rejuvenating the NCKU area, according to Hwung.

The transnational academic collaboration between NCKU and AA on the issues of urban renewal is unprecedented in Taiwan, said Tainan Deputy Mayor Charles Lin who hailed the opportunity of collaboration between the two universities.

In an effort to solve the urban problems and improve the quality life for Tainan citizens, the Tainan City government is ready to adopt the suggestions and proposals put forth by the workshop, according to Lin.

The subjects of the workshop are four public sites at Tainan City, namely 96 Military dependents’ village, TzuChiang Military dependents’ village, JingZhong 3^rd Military dependents’ village, and Ordnance Accessories Factory, which were investigated closely by the participants who were divided into four groups to develop feasible plans over the 10-day workshop.

Co-Director Jorge Fiori, on behalf of AA, thanked Hwung and the staff and students for their warm hospitality, saying he was impressed by the potential of the students in the workshop who have taken advantage of the 10 days to work in teams on design and research.

Tainan has a tremendous opportunity to reposition itself over the next 20 years and the collaboration among the university, city government, and business investors will make the city development very promising in the next steps of developing a knowledge-based economy, according to Prof. Hugo Hinsley.

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