Tainan Spring / MVRDV
This project was implemented in Taiwan in 2020 with the aim of reusing the China Town Mall, which was no longer usable, by the MVRDV architecture company.
China Town Mall was built in 1983 on top of the old port next to the Tainan Canal. A large commercial structure that no longer served its purpose, and now that online shopping is replacing physical stores, has emptied the mall into downtown Tainan, leaving it lifeless. Had become. This project (Tainan Spring) shows what solutions are possible for unused shopping malls.
The old mall has been scrapped and carefully altered, making the project an innovative example of a circular economy. The basement of the bazaar, formerly the market square, has been transformed into an urban pool surrounded by lush local plants. The pool has been carefully planned to be a convenient place to collect water in all seasons. The water level rises and falls in response to the rainy and dry seasons, and in hot weather the fogs reduce the local temperature to keep visitors comfortable and reduce the use of air conditioners during the summer months. This space hosts playgrounds, gathering spaces and a stage for display. The artistic structure of the concrete structure of the buildings has made it possible for old shops to be turned into shops, kiosks and other facilities at the right time.
In addition, part of the structure is designed with a visible glass floor, which allows people to better understand the site’s history and appreciate the former mall as an important part of Tiananmen’s history.
A key part of the strategy for this project was to create green space in the city. As a result, both public squares and roads are introducing large areas of planting that mix local plant species with a lush natural landscape in eastern Tainan, with trees, shrubs, and meadows. Provide several layers of vegetation. The density of these plant substrates varies in response to the appearance of the shops and provides more space for people if needed and for plants in between. Now that construction is complete, it will take another two to three years for the project to be fully realized as the newly planted trees gradually turn into lush and anticipated gardens.
Here people can swim in the pool, which is a remnant of a shopping center. How wonderful is it for children to swim in the ruins of the past soon?
Tainan is a very gray city. With the re-entry of vegetation to wherever possible, the city will be re-integrated into the surrounding landscape. Creating greenery was an important issue in the project, which will increase the natural landscape in eastern Tainan by planting trees and plant species on the roads around the project, and the city will benefit greatly from this.
The project has also artistically shaped the columns in the center of height, which were part of the design infrastructure and could not be removed, and these concrete columns have been painted and decorated in such a way as to minimize their visual presence.
