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Jump! Michigan + KJ
Cijin Island, Kaohsiung
Panoramic view of open pocket in the middle of a block. Yilan.
Cities in the U.S. are generally gridded with all the buildings facing the street. In some cases there is a secondary system of alley, but they only function for garbage collection and parking - no one lives off of an alley and businesses don’t operate off of them. However, the urban fabric of the Taiwanese (and Chinese) cities tend to be much more complex with secondary and tertiary streets or walkways branching off from the main street into a dense block of apartments, businesses, and temples.
This site in Yilan is an example of this typology; however, it opens up in the center in a sea of unused pavement. This lead me to wonder about property ownership: where does the street stop and the temple begin?
Side Note: When I went to construct the panoramic view, I first tried Photomerge. This turned out seamless but only with added perspective, which made it look like a view down a linear street rather than from a single space. I then constructed the view above without adjusting the size or angle of the images. -Theresa
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The second largest city in Taiwan, Kaohsiung, is located in southwestern Taiwan with a population around 1.5 million. It is a center for manufacturing, refining, shipbuilding, and other light and heavy industries¹.
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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The Third Sunrise - Yilan
At the first guest house in Yilan, a few Taiwanese students recommended that we go see the sunrise over the ocean because it is very beautiful there. The immediate response of everyone is in the room was “No! There is just going to be a line of clouds like the last two times.” And we were right. At the guest house in the mountains, I was awoken just after 5am by other families rising for morning exercises on the front lawn. I noticed the pink sky through the blinds and peaked out to find a bank of clouds! Proof from the comfort of my room… and back to bed. -Theresa
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HSR Chiayi > Tainan
“getting close”
Traditional Tao House
This vernacular housing typology of the Tao provides an example of a flexible system of conditioning space in a tropical climate. The aboriginal people of Orchid Island traditionally build three different structures over a span of many years. This differentiated complex of household buildings primarily serves as a low tech variable HVAC system. The smallest structure is elevated above the hillside with minimal shelter from the weather but also provides for a well ventilated space for daily relaxation. The next largest house is partially built into the hillside and is mostly used for storage. It is also important because it can be used by the women during the less formal celebrations because it is more public than the main house. The final structure is sunk into the hillside providing the most protection from the elements. Its interior is further partitioned creating a space for the symbolic soul of the house and for drying the local flying fish, a space for cooking with a slanted sleeping area, and a space to host all night singing feasts. The Tao housing typology is also interesting because of its drainage system which relies on the cooperation of all of the neighboring houses.
-Patrick Murphy
New Video: Snorkeling off the northern coast of Lanyu Island
I put my underwater camera to the test, and it passed with flying colors. Enjoy the new 3 1/2 minute video of our snorkeling experience on Lanyu Island’s northern coast.
We were led out to the deeper coral reefs by a guide, and, because of the large waves, we had to wear life jackets. The experience was surreal. Floating effortlessly atop the reefs was an amazing experience. The diversity of fish species was very cool. The coral reefs and lava rock forms were very neat, but not as colorful and diverse as I expected. I think that everyone really enjoyed the experience.
-Andrew Broderick