In 1997, members of the Golden Bough Theatre made a startling discovery. There, deep in the heart of Taipei and cordoned off from all visitors, stood an abandoned factory. The group described the factory as a city within a city, a place where nature was left to age with concrete for nearly a decade…and they were intrigued. While the young thespians didn't know it at the time, they had stumbled upon one of the oldest and most well preserved structures in Taiwan.

 

Built in 1914, the factory was among Taiwan’s largest wine producers throughout the 1920’s. It had however, long since been abandoned. The brazen group “restored” a small section of the factory and began staging plays in the abandoned halls. Their experimental performances, and intriguing choice of venue, quickly caught the attention of the local community…Unfortunately it also caught the attention of local law enforcement and the group was promptly cited for trespassing.

 

  This minor act of excessive enthusiasm however, was just the beginning. Local artists became drawn to the open spaces, high ceilings and abundant natural light. Soon art and literary giants from across Taipei began using the factory as an inspirational work space, giving performances and leaving their distinctive mark on the structures themselves. Word about this unique environment spread further and in 1999 the Association of Culture Environment Reform Taiwan, a non profit NGO, was established to oversee the restoration of the factory into a full fledged arts center.

 

The factory was renamed the Huashan Creative Park and, in 2005, the rebuilding of the Creative Park began. In 2007 the Taiwan Cultural-Creative Development Co. Ltd assumed responsibility for the renovation and operation of the Park and renamed it Huashan 1914. An organically creative environment has been growing ever since. Huashan 1914 now serves as Taipei’s primary creative arts center and a hosting ground for Taiwan’s most significant cultural activities. Examples include the Simple Life music festival and the BiBo student design expo.

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  Today Huashan 1914 is not only the heart of Taiwan’s creative pulse, but also a bridge to a unique architectural past

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Source: huashan1914.com

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