The 1970s marked the beginning of Taiwan’s economic miracle. With the significant growth driven by U.S. aid and the burgeoning East Asian economy at that time, Taiwanese entrepreneurs, supported by the government, expanded into various sectors such as electronics, textiles, and manufacturing, creating a unique growth model for Taiwan’s economy. As Taiwan’s economy began transitioning to the high-tech industry, industrial zones were established to foster the introduction and development of manufacturing and high-tech industries. The Xindian Industrial Zone primarily focuses on production, research and development, and manufacturing-related industries, including electronics, semiconductors, communications, optics, and precision machinery.
As time progressed, Taiwan’s manufacturing industry gradually declined from its former glory, and the Xindian Industrial Zone began facing the need for transformation. The project we are handling is a product of that era’s microcosm, symbolizing a beginning – a dance of dreams and memories, a journey rich in heritage and innovation.
Upon entering the Xindian Industrial Zone, we noticed a characteristic feature of the buildings: due to the focus on concentrated development, the spacing between buildings within each block was very narrow, allowing natural light only at the rear, with no windows in the middle. Even if windows existed, nature lights were often blocked by illegal structures of the time, posing a challenge for natural light-loving people like us. Therefore, we opted to use large amounts of transparent materials for partitioning, aiming to create a sense of openness with the limited natural light available. In terms of material selection, we chose sustainably sourced and recyclable galvanized iron, vintage-inspired moru glass, and birch plywood that no longer requires extensive spray painting. We used these materials as the design foundation, primarily choosing raw materials to reflect the feeling of the early manufacturing stage when the site was filled with unprocessed materials. In the industrial zone environment, even with new creations, the integration remains harmonious, which has always been our goal.
At 9:00 AM, the sound of hammering begins, accompanied by the rumble of nearby machines. Components move forward on the conveyor belt one by one on the production line. The precision parts on the green conveyor belt are Taiwan’s secret weapons for export. The glory of the 1970s is still vivid in our minds, and we aim to preserve this touching feeling and motivation. Therefore, we decided to keep the production lines and transform them into modern work desks, adding a tangible sense of emotion to this historically significant space.