Yong Quan Public Park

Yong Quan Public Park

Yong Quan Public Park is an innovative urban renewal project that transformed a historic sugar factory site into a multifunctional public space, exemplifying the successful integration of industrial heritage preservation with contemporary landscape design. Located in Taiwan, this 22,672-square-meter park masterfully weaves together elements of the site's industrial past with modern ecological considerations, featuring a central lake surrounded by a circular trail that traces the original sugar factory railway lines. The park's design, led by Ching-I Wu alongside designers Fu Chu Hsu, Wen Tai Hsieh, and Chia Hua Lin, incorporates sophisticated hydrological systems that support sustainable urban ecology through underground tunnel networks and gravel layers, facilitating natural water flow and creating permanent ponds that serve as habitats for water birds and aquatic plants. The park's architectural narrative carefully preserves and highlights historical elements while introducing modern amenities, including an observation deck extending from Fuxing Road Bridge to the central lake, elevated wooden walkways, and a spacious public square. This thoughtful design approach, which earned the project a Gold A' Design Award in the Urban Planning and Urban Design category, successfully addresses multiple objectives: environmental sustainability, historical preservation, and community engagement. The park's innovative features include an ecological education platform, comprehensive drainage systems, and carefully planned recreational spaces that serve both educational and social functions, making it a significant example of how urban planning can effectively bridge industrial heritage with contemporary public needs.

urban renewal, industrial heritage preservation, ecological sustainability, public space design, landscape architecture, cultural preservation

— Adam Dawson