Experiencing urban development in Taipei

Taipei is the central city of Taiwan, with a population of approximately 2.7 million, roughly the same size as Osaka. Historically, development began around Taipei Main Station on the west side of the city, and then the wave of development shifted to Xinyi District, where urban planning was based on Shinjuku's sub-center. In 2004, Taipei 101, which was the world's tallest building at the time, was completed, accelerating development in Xinyi District. Currently, the development area is expanding further east to the Nangang district, where the Shinkansen (bullet train) terminal is located. In front of Nangang Station, our company has just begun designing a new mixed-use complex with a total floor area of approximately 380,000 square meters, comprising convention facilities, commercial spaces, offices, and residences, which will serve as a gateway to the Nangang district.

The Xinyi District Master Plan was formulated in the 1970s with the involvement of Taipei native Kuo Maolin. Kuo is an architect and urban planner who has also participated in the planning of the Kasumigaseki Building, the World Trade Center Building in Hamamatsucho, and Sunshine 60 in Ikebukuro in Japan. Working with the city, he established a U-shaped pedestrian amenity axis in the Xinyi District surrounding Taipei City Hall, proposing an urban design that separates pedestrians and vehicles. Even today, department stores, movie theaters, and restaurants line this pedestrian axis, making it one of the busiest districts in Taiwan. Taipei Nanshan Plaza is located at the junction of this pedestrian axis, and the exterior, facility layout, and plaza design were determined from an urban-level perspective. I believe this project has, to some extent, realized the ideals of the master plan at the time it was formulated.

Taipei Nanshan Plaza was constructed by one of the largest local general contractors, and construction signs bearing the names of Japanese construction companies are often seen at major urban projects. Even within the Xinyi District alone, there are numerous buildings by major Japanese general contractors, from the old Taipei 101 to the recently completed Taipei Cultural and Creative Building (designed by Toyo Ito), the Breeze Shopping Center, and ultra-luxury apartment buildings with distinctive spiral facades. Local building regulations are based on Japan's Building Standards Act, and local general contractors have reportedly received technical assistance from Japanese construction companies in the past, so Japanese-style construction methods have become firmly established. Furthermore, the quality of Japanese building materials is highly regarded locally, and Taipei Nanshan Plaza also used many Japanese products, from facade sashes and exterior tiles to double-deck elevators and restroom sanitary fixtures.

Taiwan, a pro-Japanese nation, is home to many Japanese convenience stores and restaurants, and Japanese signs are common throughout the city. A distinctive feature of the city is the arcades known as "chi-lou." Similar to the snow-proof gango-style structures seen in Niigata's shopping districts, the buildings along the sidewalks are lined up side by side, allowing visitors to walk without umbrellas. According to 2017 statistics from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau and Taiwan Tourism Association, approximately 4.62 million Taiwanese people visited Japan, while approximately 1.9 million Japanese people visited Taiwan. Located just a short distance from Okinawa, Taiwan offers plenty of enjoyment for a weekend trip. If you haven't visited yet, we highly recommend experiencing Taiwan's culture, people, architecture, cuisine, and hot springs. The spectacular fireworks display from Taipei 101 during the New Year's countdown is a Taipei tradition. Why not welcome the new year from Taipei Nanshan Plaza, where you can see them up close?