Making Friends with the Land, People and Time-Architecture in Taiwan

摘要

This issue features the architecture in Taiwan, an island state in East Asia largely covered with steep, rugged mountain ranges spanning from its northern to southern end whilst densely populated along the perimeter. We approach the making of this issue through firsthand experience; traversing the island and making friends with local people. Through casual conversations during countless meals and driving trips, we began understand a bit more of their architecture culture and of the strong comradeship between the authorities, academics, developers, building professions and its citizens. The Taiwanese love their country and wish to make it a better place for everyone. Over the past quarter of a century, the architecture in Taiwan have transited from a field exclusive to the professionals, to one that is relatable to and enjoyed by ordinary people, becoming their choice of lifestyle and aesthetics. Even amidst its volatile political and challenging economical situations, the administering of public works and commissioning of commercial projects managed to maintain its creativity and rationality. This is also where architects overseas found unprecedented design freedom, realising one of their best works. We have selected projects, that we feel, are borne out of its unique conditions, and those that strongly reflect the architect's concern with the environment, their own culture and history. Maybe we could also, through its architecture, begin to understand and appreciate the island that was once named "IIha Formosa (Beautiful Island)".