With the support of the Taipei Representative Office in the U.K., three films produced by Taiwan’s Public Television Service are set to feature in the online program of the London Festival of Architecture, running throughout the entirety of June.
Echoing the festival’s theme of “care” this year, the three films introduce UK audiences to how the Taiwanese architects have begun rediscovering the hidden contexts of the urban landscape through documentation and research, re-examining the relationship between “house” and “home” for communities through activism, and reflecting on the essence of modern architecture by returning to collaborative tribal traditions after the shock of natural disasters.
In “Parasitic Temples: A Record of a City Adapting to Survive”, a spotlight is put on the nooks and crannies of Taiwan’s urban landscape, as hundreds of traditional ‘parasitic’ temples attach themselves to modern buildings. Architect LAI Po-Wei, inspired by these temples, reflects on how people strive to keep intimate connections with their traditional religious beliefs, amidst a society undergoing rapid modernization. How these peculiar temples survived through metamorphosis, latching onto the new structures, demonstrates the value of adaptability within Taiwanese society.
“In the Spotlight: The Toad Mountain Settlement & Her Friends” follows the residents of Huanmin New Village on Taipei’s Toad Mountain (Chanchu Shan), after part of their village is demolished to make way for a new high-rise development, . Under the threat of eviction and demolition, Photographer LIN Che leads a team to assist the residents in documenting the remaining architecture, with the aim to restore a sense of community and infuse new energy into the village. With their effort, the once-dilapidated village is revived as a cultural heritage site with a bustling resident community.
“Hsieh Ying-Chun: Tribal Architecture for the People” explores the work and philosophy of Hsieh Ying-Chun, an established architect who left the world of commercial architecture after an earthquake in 199. Settling with Taiwan’s indigenous Thao tribe of Sun Moon Lake, he devoted himself to rebuilding disaster zones like in Tibet and Nepal, developing a belief in long-term collaborative construction and a philosophy of “Design for People”.
For more information, please visit the London Festival of Architecture website: https://www.londonfestivalofarchitecture.org/2021-festival-launch/
