Interdisciplinary Dialogue to Create Livable, Inclusive and Sustainable Environment-Far Eastern International Forum for Architecture

Far Eastern International Forum for Architecture

Far Eastern International Forum for Architecture, which is held by Y. Z. Hsu Science and Technology Memorial Foundation, approaches architecture through diverse perspectives. The 2020 forum on Art．Reconstruction．Design explores uncertainties as well as future trends and changes derived from the COVID-19 pandemic while pondering the boundary between “art” and “design”. This boundary, which used to be clearly defined, is dissolving. Will such phenomenon pose significant influence to human society in the present and future? Will the two disciplines intertwine further into carriers of greater mission? With this forum as the medium, the foundation will continue to explore the impact of social issues on architectural design in the future. 

Far Eastern International Forum for Architecture invited 10 prominent artists and architectural scholars from Japan and Taiwan to explore the present and future of art and design as the boundary between them dissolves in an increasingly diverse and fragmented society. Though Director Yuki Akimoto from Japan was not able to attend, he still contributed with a pre-recorded lecture. The fruitful exchange broadened the students’ perspectives and elevated the emphasis on the cultural connotation of architectural design among the public, generating intellectual stimulation for Taiwan in the post-pandemic era. Chairman Douglas Tong Hsu, who has a strong penchant for art, praised the exceptional performance of the young artists at the event.

 

⇥ Far Eastern International Forum for Architecture (Chinese)

Rural-Urban Development, Local Revitalization- Keelung Taiping International Workshop

Keelung Taiping International Workshop

In search of opportunities for industries in port villages and mountain towns, and to provide care for aging communities, Far Eastern Memorial Foundation began collaborating with Yuan Ze University as well as Keelung City Government and launched Keelung Taiping International Workshop in 2019. The workshop, now in its 5th round, focuses on spatial revitalization, industry innovation and long-term care, and the 2020 workshop added local revitalization into issues discussed. With Keelung Taiping Elementary School and the Taiping community as the fields of experiment, the local revitalization team conducted interviews and residence programs, inviting local residents and artisans to co-work and co-create. Lane 113, Zhongshan 1st Road is identified as the corridor that connects the elementary school to the downtown of this port village. This team designated this corridor as “the road to the mountains, and the road home,” and renovated the public facilities and vacant buildings along this road. The team also organized Taiping Market 2.0 at a scale three times larger than the 2018 event. Local residents and businesses opened the market together and promoted issues related to the aging population. The market offered 250 hand-printed T-shirts as a reward for participants who explored Taiping community and efforts of local revitalization. To get the free T-shirt, visitors must finish collecting stamps from designated locations on the local map they receive. Among the 70 booths at the market, 60 are from local vendors and 10 are local residents. In addition to offering products at the booths, the event also includes exhibitions, fashion shows, live performances and DIYs. The fashion shows focus on environmental protection with long-time local residents as the models featuring clothing made with used fishing net, fabric and ocean waste (buoy). Eight lectures were held with renowned architects such as the husband-and-wife team, Hsu-Yuan Kuo and Effie Huang as speakers. They shared their views on landscape architecture and spatial revitalization with actual case studies. Visual artists Shiao-Peng Chen and Meng-Shu You were also invited to lead the participants on sensory and bodily explorations, perceiving the richly layered social fabric in the port villages and mountain towns through micro-perspective from the Taiping community. The DIY programs then helped the audience to express their observations and thoughts. A total of 600 participants attended the programs held during the event. 

Keelung Taiping International Workshop serves the role of “citizen education.” Beginning in the summer of 2020, doctors from Far Eastern Memorial Hospital provides pro bono medical consultation and checkups such as testing blood pressure, blood sugar and body composition analysis at Taiping Elementary School. Far Eastone Telecommunications Co. provides 5G network services and VR trials. The Legal Department of Far Eastern SOGO Department Store provides pro bono legal consultation. Yuan Ze University provides technological support that the university developed for senior citizens, hoping to encourage seniors to exercise and improve cognitive ability through multimedia games.

As Far Eastern Group marches into its 71^st year, Far Eastern Memorial Foundation continues to dedicate efforts into architecture and culture. In recent years, the foundation also devotes efforts into long-term care, hoping to provide daily assistance for local residents and learn more about the cultural history of each community through ongoing residence program. Through interdisciplinary course, programs and exhibitions, the foundation wishes to establish influential narratives and bring substantive transformation in the society. Meanwhile, by constructing a genuine representation of the community through creative work, the foundation wishes to bring revitalization and innovation to local culture and aesthetics.