Routes through the Roots {Taipei, 2015}

Routes (through the) Roots Wanhua, Taipei (Taiwan)

Wanhua is the oldest district of Taipei. It was first built and purposed as a trading area in service of the port district of Tansui. Wanhua is the root(s) of Taipei. In the last years, the population of the district has been in decline. Businesses have been closing and the ones that still remain have seen their profits decrease.

Taipei has seen a process of rapid urbanization in the last 50 years. Since the 90’s there has been a special effort in the urban regeneration of Wanhua (Bangka). The focus has been on infrastructure, historical preservation and artistic and educational activities. “These programs have sparked conflicts and debates about the interpretation of the history and the images used to represent it”[1].

There are few organizations working in boosting the development of Wanhua from within. Homeless Taiwan is one of them. They train homeless people to become “tour guides” in the area. They organize tours called Hidden Taipei. Another organization is The Urbanists Collaborative. They have an “open office” in the Bopilao block where they openly discuss with citizens about the development of the area. They also organize walks around the district to share its historical and cultural value. The two organizations share a practice, though with different goals.

Walking the city is a way to appropriate it and build a sense of belonging to the place. But walking through a route (tour) is an ephemeral action. It is also important to have something that leaves a longer-lasting memory of the place (souvenir).

We organized a first tour around the neighbourhood (September 4, 2015). At the beginning of the tour the participants received a passport (small journal). Throughout the route, had their passport stamped in the different posts. The passport has a space for participants to write their own ideas. It combines general history with personal stories.

All the files used to make the passport are released under a creative commons license and will are available open source so they can be used to make new walks and tours around the district. The manual can be consulted and downloaded HERE.

*This project was made in collaboration with Tzuhan Yeh, as part of the Designer in Residence program of Taipei World Design Capital 2016 and by kind invitation of the Cultural Affairs department of the city of Taipei and ArtHappening.

*Pictures taken by Jimmy Chao.

*Article published in the Taipei Times prior to the tour and lecture about the project-

*Report published by Taiwan Reporter after the tour and lecture, by a German journalist living in Taipei.