3rd Earth God Temple , Taichung/ Taiwan

Wettbewerbsaufgabe
The Earth God Temple, Dahe Village, Xitun District, Taichung City, Taiwan.

The Earth God Temple (Tu Di Gong 土地公), the symbol of humans' respect for , exists in harmony and as one with the land and environment. However, as urban development progresses, the aftermath has been reflected directly on the temple. The religious center is gradually shrinking as the property's frequently was being ceded. In respond to this issue, we have organized the „Student Competition of the Earth God Temple“, inviting young students with creativity and ideals to evaluate and provide a solution that improves the temple and its surrounding landscape, ultimately granting the Earth God and the residents of the neighborhood a better environment.
Located in the south end of Taichung Gateway Park (Jade Eco Park), the site measures about 660 square meters and is zoned for religious land use. The 2,540,000 square meters Park district is an important new development for the City of Taichung; a master plan including commercial, research, university, ecological, and cultural programs. According to Taichung’s municipal urban plan, at the center of Taichung Gateway City will be an expansive green space - Taichung Gateway Park (with a total area of 67.34-hectare) - that meanders from the north to the south of the entire development. Areas surrounding the park will be divided into four districts according to their features: Eco Residential District, Gateway District, Cultural Business District, and Innovation R&D District. In addition, Taiwan Tower, Taichung City Cultural Center, and Taichung Movie City will all be integrated into Taichung Gateway City. In the near future, the Earth God Temple of Dahe Village will act as the gateway to the Park in the south.
The original site of the Temple was located at 17 Dahe 1st Alley in Dahe Village, Xitun District. In addition to being the activity center for the locals, cultural events and the announcing of election voting results took place at the previous location as well. One of the main religious activities the Temple participates was the „The Return of the Nantun Wanhe Temple Goddess to Xitun.“ The Temple was one of the stops of this traditional procession full of celebration with music and crowds. Due to the new scheme for the entire Gateway Park district, the original site was planned to become a Parkland & Sewage Works. Through the proposition lead by the governor, representatives, and inhabitants of the village, advocating the idea of „integrating religious tradition into cultural tourism“, the Temple has received its right to move to the current location, at the intersection of Gansu Road and Ganhe Road.
As the site is located at the south end of Taichung Gateway Park (Jade Eco Park), the overall design should continue the intention of the regional planning. The major guiding points are Innovation, Green Energy, Intelligence, and Low-Carbon. The proposal should consider the surrounding context and future plans for Taichung Gateway Park as well as the Taiwan Tower.

Termine
2015/12/07
Stage 1Review & Evaluation
2015/12/08
Seminar in preparation for the Stage 2 Review & Evaluation
2016/03/04
Stage 2 Review & Evaluation
2016/03/05
Stage 3 Plebiscite

Jury
Yung-Hsin Chen - Principal Architect, Atelier Buffalo
Norihiko Dan - Architect/Urban Designer, Norihiko Dan and Associates
Nancy Lin - Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Asia Pacific, AECOM
Ka-Shiang Liu - Author, Nature Observer
Shuenn-Ren Liou - Chairman, Institute of Creative Industry Design, Department of Architecture, NCKU, Taiwan
Chun-Hsiung Wang - Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Shih Chien University, Taiwan
Her-Ching Wang - Chairman, COSMOS Inc. Planning Consultants

Chairman for Stage 1 Review & Evaluation: Chun-Hsiung Wang
Chairman for Stage 2 Review & Evaluation: Shuenn-Ren Liou