Interview2010.06.09Nangang Interview 6

Interview Synopsis:

This interview was for the upper government officials, mainly to ask them about the future role and main direction of the bottle cap factory.

Interview Result:
1. The role of Nangang:
Nangang is the most malleable area in the high-density developed Taipei. It embodies the high-potential strategic zone for transportation and can coordinate with the 5 major constructions of the Central Investment Holding Co. Nangang is now transforming from the high-density industrial dark village of the past to a new area interwoven with Taipei technological industry, cultural industry and performance/exhibition center.

(1) Major Industry- Taipei-Keelung Metropolitan Area Development Technological Corridor
Looking at the geographic location of Nangang, it is located at the easternmost region of Taipei city district. However, looking at the site from Taipei-Keelung Metropolitan Area development, Nangang is located at the center of Taipei’s most important technological corridor. It is hoped that the newest technological industries can be attracted to Nangang, to promote Taipei as a global high-tech industrial headquarter in Asia, and to include research center, educational center and planning/management center. It is hoped to create a new century of knowledge-based economy in Taipei.

(2) Potential Industry- cultural creative industry
The northern city government of Taiwan already has a good foundation and concept on all kinds of cultural creative industry. Currently, the city is further actively integrating all sources to connect the Taipei Art Center in Shilin, the City Museum of Taipei along Zhongshan North Road in the Yuanshan District, the Songyan Cultural District, and the eastward Nangang’s “Taipei Pop Music Center”. It then plans to coordinate with Nangang’s “performance/exhibition center” to form a L-shape belt for the cultural creative industry, to speed up the agglomeration of Taipei cultural creative industries and effectively upgrade the quality and global competitiveness of its products.

2. What should the role of the bottle cap factory be to promote the holistic synergy of the Nangang district?

The five major constructions of the Central Investment Holding Co. hope to become the catalyst to start the development of Nangang district. From west to east, the facilities for Nangang are cultural creative center, train station, biotechnology center, performance/exhibition center and software center. Nangang bottle-cap factory is a rare large public land lot that is still vacant. The five major constructions are of singular large-scale developments. The major constructions by Central Investment still need to connect with the surrounding community and local industries to really exert their effect as a catalyst for a holistic district development. Also, in order to effectively fill in the gap of the different developmental stages between the major constructions and local developments, and to achieve a balanced role for the Central Investment, the city government is currently negotiating with the Ministry of Finance State Property Bureau. They hope to use Nangang bottle cap factory as the core for a short-term reuse plan to integrate the efforts of local residents and industry to find the unique characteristic and local value specifically of Nangang.

3. During previous interviews the public brought up the need for green and open space. This is the view of the government:

There are two meanings for green: one is the real physical green, the other is the conceptual green (environmental protection, reduction of pollution and etc.). Architecturally, green is another concept, like green architecture has 9 target regulations, which can transform outdoor horizontal green to vertical green. Besides green one needs water. Green without water will not achieve the target of biodiversity. If there is water as well as green, birds and organisms can become active.

4. Is there a holistic design plan for integrating all of Nangang open spaces and transportation systems?

Most projects have to go through urban renewal, urban planning and urban planning committee. When the project is passed, it will go through discussions to inspect and regulate the width of streets, open spaces, handicap accessible facilities and etc. Therefore, there shouldn’t be any problem about having a holistic design plan.

5. Will the future of bottle cap factory really move toward the development of commercial district?

Due to the inflexibility of current land use regulation, it is easy to break the law when using the lot. Therefore, the bottle cap factory land lot will move toward developing into a reserved district for special use, which hopefully will not limit the future development of the factory land.