NCKU‧Matsu

Translating and Regenerating the Military Heritage in Matsu

NCKU & Matsu

MATSU

In response to the core philosophy of cultural governance, this project started by revitalizing individual fortified points to reactivating the military sites located on the outer ring of the islands. From connecting dots to forming lines and, eventually, a network, this study preserved and rejuvenated the military zones of the islands. We integrated military narratives, local cultures and histories, and regional development to reconnect and present the historic sites. Through promoting local cultures and in-depth community building, this project revitalizes static spaces and emphasizes on the possibility of new forms of cultural governance emerging from the spatial reinterpretation and revitalization process.

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MATSU

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Defends Sites

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Island Brew

Play Matsu Video

Take a deep breath at the base and move forward with history.

Listening to the Fortress

Interlace, Matsu 2022

Site

The Cold War–era defense sites were transformed into warzone cultural sites to create a new future vision for Matsu islands. To revitalize the island, we upheld the spirit of university social responsibility (USR) and established a connection between Matsu and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU). We preserved and revitalized warzone cultural sceneries, contributed to the placemaking and rejuvenation of the site, and assisted in improving the education and culture of offshore islands.

01.

MATSU

02.

Defense Sites

03.

Island Brew

Play Matsu Video

Translating and Regenerating the Military Heritage in Matsu

Moving Forward with History Transformation of Battlefield

Interlace, Matsu 2022

Island Brew

Dr. Fu Chao-Ching, Dr. Jeng Tay-Sheng, and Kung Po-Min of NCKU were the main curators for the Gazing Fortress Matsu project. They invited 13 architectural teams, which had submitted or completed proposals for the remaking of 14 Matsu military sites, to participate in this art islands exhibition. This exhibition is held at the Maishi Special Tea House for Military Officers, which was first site to be remodeled. By incorporating multiple architectural design strategies to remodel military sites, we can create a diverse future that is full of possibilities.

01.

MATSU

02.

Defense Sites

03.

Island Brew

On the basis of the three aspects of site implementation, brand identity, and university responsibility, this project conducted a comprehensive review of Matsu’s development.

By promoting USR and integrating NCKU’s rich academic experience with the local cultural heritage of Matsu, the project realized the spirit of “Achieve Securely; Prosper Mutually.”

Site Implementation

NCKU acted to connect multiple resources. It used its extensive academic resources and Matsu’s local cultural heritage to implement a project that involved reconstructing historic sites and reinterpreting architectures. Through the development of the war-time cultural sites, we sought opportunities to implement sustainable development in Matsu. For the Department of Architecture, NCKU, this project represents a cross-domain application of their expertise in architecture, and demonstrates NCKU’s commitment to USR. Our dream is to have NCKU and foreign universities coestablish a Matsu International Academy to explore the shared values of sustainability, culture, arts, and technology. Furthermore, through the discourse of island design and art curation during the New Cold War, we hope to increase Taiwan’s visibility and international status.

Brand Identity

Dean Jeng Tay-Sheng assembled a team of more than 10 teachers from diverse fields (e.g., architecture, urban planning, industry design, creativity industry, and technology and arts) to manage the Gazing Fortress Matsu project. At each stage, the architecture design team discussed, translate, designed, vitalized, and recreated the gradually deteriorating military sites, integrating them into the contemporary landscape of Matsu.

University Responsibility

NCKU acted to integrate various resources. In this project, NCKU combined its rich academic resources with Matsu’s local cultural heritage to recreate historic sites and translate military cultural heritage. Through the development of the warzone cultural scenes, we sought to uncover opportunities to establish sustainable development in Matsu. This project serves as both a cross-domain social practice and a demonstration of USR. On the basis of its future goals, NCKU is using Matsu as a base for establishing the NCKU Matsu Liberal Arts Design Microcollege. First, we are overcoming the limitations of the existing higher education system by establishing a mission-oriented, flexible organization that emphasizes cross-domain implementation and rolling innovation. Second, we are fulfilling our USRs. Against the backdrop of the current state of international geopolitics, we are showcasing to the world Matsu’s preservation and revitalization of warzone cultural scenes.
This spatial reinterpretation project focuses on the military bases in Matsu. On the basis of the outstanding contemporary and emerging architectures in Taiwan, we employed design aestheticism to translate our concepts and study the military sites, thereby enabling us to brainstorm new field functions and ideas.

This spatial reinterpretation project focuses on the military bases in Matsu. On the basis of the outstanding contemporary and emerging architectures in Taiwan, we employed design aestheticism to translate our concepts and study the military sites, thereby enabling us to brainstorm new field functions and ideas.