Take a small journey through old houses while strolling in Tainan

Strolling through a place with a long historyTaiwanthe former provincial capitalTainan, you can see many aged residential buildings in its streets and alleys, aside from officially designated historical sites, all preserving the everyday culture of the past. However, in the 21st century today, some unoccupied buildings are facing demolition due to rapid economic development, urban renewal, and other needs. Despite this, a group of passionate individuals, driven by their affection for the city, have come to recognize the memory and cultural heritage value of these old houses and have started to “protect” them.

Many operators of these old-house shops are young people from the 1970s or 1980s; they are eitherlocals ofTainanor came toTainanto study and fell in love with the city. Together, they promote a more creative, soft, and community-driven approach to old-house preservation that stays true to their individual core values, gradually making these old houses the top gathering spots for a new generation of youth.Together, they promote a more creative, soft, and community-driven approach to old-house preservation that stays true to their individual core values, gradually making these old houses the top gathering spots for a new generation of youth.

The bookTainanDay by Day: A Small Journey Through Old Houses mentions: “Old houses are a way of reminiscing about the old times. A city without stories is a dead city. And old houses are precisely the spaces that preserve these stories. Though their splendor may have faded, the spirit and attitude they embody are even more captivating.”

ThusTaiwan’sOld Capital Foundation launched the “Old House Revitalization” campaign, encouraging a new generation of young artists to reinterpret old houses with their understanding ofTainan’straditional culture, combined with new creativity and technology, thereby breathing new life into these old spaces and revivingTaiwan’straditional lifestyle aesthetics, which had gradually been lost due to an excessive focus on development. This “new everyday life movement” has given a fresh makeover to the “old houses” originally tucked away in Tainan’s narrow and secluded alleys. While not altering the fundamental structures of the buildings, they have been transformed into coffee shops, homestays, second-hand bookstores, and more. Interestingly, although the retro elements stem from the 1960s or even earlier, the main clientele tends to be young women or couples. According to observations by the author and interviews with shop owners, this trend is closely linked to how operators effectively use social media. Statistics also show thatTainan’sold houses, originally tucked away in narrow and secluded alleys, have been given a fresh makeover without altering their fundamental structures, and have been transformed into coffee shops, homestays, second-hand bookstores, and more. Interestingly, although the retro elements stem from the 1960s or even earlier, the main clientele tends to be young women or couples. According to observations by the author and interviews with shop owners, this trend is closely linked to how operators effectively use social media. Statistics also show thatTaiwan’smost active Facebook users fall within the 18 to 34 age bracket, which coincides perfectly with the primary consumer demographic of old-house shops.

Operators of old-house shops often host various activities on Facebook, such as flower arrangement workshops, printmaking classes, and cultural lectures, adding diversity to the functionality of their venues. These spaces are no longer just teahouses or homestays but can also serve as flexible venues for art and cultural events within the old-house settings. With these complementary activities and services,TainanThe sense of space offered by this old house is completely different from the traditional image people usually associate with old buildings—it’s a vibrant, culturally creative, artistic, and caring space.

Image source:Kinks Old House

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