Announced in 2011, Taipei strongly believes that it will become the World Design Capital in the year 2016.
TAIPEI- Over the last five years, the image of Taipei has changed dramatically, turning Taiwan capital into one of Asia’s coolest places to go. Taipei has shaken its industrial, grey image to turn into a dynamic city where trends are emerging. They are lots of signs showing that Taipei is probably now the equivalent of Tokyo or Seoul for the Chinese World when looking at arts, culture and design. One of the trendiest districts in the heart of the capital is Ximending, a fashion hub very similar to a Japanese town where young trendy people come for shopping, eating or just partying. Around the “Red House”, a beautiful 100-year old Western Style classical building (but in reality built in Japanese “Meiji Style”, an architecture movement en vogue at the beginning of the 20th century), a gay district has even settled with its multitude of bars, funky shops and eateries.
In Zongshan district, the former US consulate located in a western style building constructed in 1926 has been turned into an Indie film centre. Around the building with its coffee shop and library, many design shops have settled in the past few years, turning the area into a great place to watch out the creativity of young fashion or interior designers.
Another area is delimited by the trendy W Hotel and the nearby shopping centres. The Eliste Bookshop works more like an art centre with its exhibition galleries and cultural activities. Many design shops are located along the pedestrian area of Xinyi District. Taipei has also a Museum of Contemporary Art and an Art Museum exhibiting talented contemporary or modern Taiwanese artists.
Design has now been recognized by both the Municipal government and Taiwan National government as a way to add value to a country. “Taipei is a pivot for gathering local design talents”, said Taipei Mayor Hau Long-bin on June 29, 2012 as he officially launched the campaign to bid for the title of 2016 World Design Capital (WDC). Initiated by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design, the WDC title is given biennially to recognize a city’s effort in dreaming up creative and innovative solutions to primary urban development issues such as culture, economy and social life.
The WDC project can serve as a mass, lifestyle-related and aesthetic movement for city evolvement, as well as a way to fulfill our promise to build a better life for citizens, according to Taipei City Government.
Four major aspects are outlined as initial steps as a means striving for the honor, including intellectual life, ecology sustainability, life health and urban rebirth.
Meetings over the issues are frequently organized to map out a comprehensive design blueprint for the city. “It’s an innovation in the administration of a city,” said Taipei Cultural Affairs Commissioner Liu Wei-gong. Through participating in the project, “we bring design workers to the center of municipal administration.”
In Asia, Seoul in South Korea was designated World Design Capital in 2010; Helsinki took over the title in 2012 before it goes to Cape Town in 2014.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
