Department of Cultural Affairs

By Cherice Chen
Staff Writter

In the hubbub of the city, right behind the Breeze Center shopping mall an empty old granary lies quiet, a graded historic building constructed during the Japanese colonial period. Similar antique-flavored wooden houses dot the city of Taipei, but are decaying because of years of negligence. Now the Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government is trying to give these old houses a new look by providing cultural creative industrialists the opportunity to utilize these spaces, turning them into a demonstration of creative energy.

Instead of letting these old houses disappear from memory, the government is actively finding new purposes for them, said Liou Wei-gong, Commissioner of Taipei City's Department of Cultural Affairs, during a press conference held in Granary No.1. By opening up the buildings and providing a matching mechanism, the government hopes to integrate resources of the public and private sectors to promote a grassroots "cultural movement" and at the same time achieve sustainable urban regeneration.

After holding consulting meetings with house owners — the National Property Administration, the Taiwan Railway Administration and Bank of Taiwan, the Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government has announced that more than 80 old buildings around Taipei will be released for cultural and creative use. In the first phase, 20 old houses, all of which are cultural heritage sites, are available for public application, Liou said.

These old houses are in some of the city's most prosperous neighborhoods. In addition to the granary, there are the Railway Division Chief's Dormitory and the Japanese Mitsui & Co.'s Warehouses on Chunghsiao West Road, the Buddhist Monastery on Zhonghua Road and three other beautiful Japanese style buildings in Daan District. Ten others are western style houses with large courtyards. Located on Yangmingshan, they used to serve as residences for the US military.

Applicants have to submit detailed plans for renovating the buildings as well as operation, management and maintenance plans. After selections are made, qualifiers will be granted the right to use the houses for 3 to 9 years with waived or discounted rental fees. The Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government will hold explanation sessions this month. For more information please visit http://www.culture.gov.tw/frontsite/oldhouse/ (in Chinese) or call (02) 2336-2798 ext 206.