The pillars under the Shilin MRT station have gotten a makeover – recycled old playground equipment turned into a photo spot

▲In 2017, "Design at Taipei Street Corners" gave the Shilin bridge piers a fresh new look. (Photo /HowToTrip Foncc - Travel Information SharingProvided. No unauthorized photography to avoid copyright infringement.)

By Reporter Zhou Yrong... (Report)

Have you ever noticed that the bridge piers beneath the MRT Zhishan Station to Shilin Station could have a completely different appearance? Just one station apart, the two stations connected by the elevated MRT showcase entirely distinct scenery. This year, "Design at Taipei Street Corners" transformed recycled playground equipment into furniture and added lighting arrangements to "light up" the Shilin bridge pier site.

▲The footprint of "Design at Taipei Street Corners" can be seen all along the way to the Shilin bridge piers. (Photo /HowToTrip Foncc - Travel Information SharingProvided. No unauthorized photography to avoid copyright infringement.)

"Design at Taipei Street Corners"Starting from the core idea of connecting the character of urban blocks, it has been continuously entering neighborhoods and transforming diverse street scenes non-stop since 2013. At the end of 2017, "Design at Taipei Street Corners" moved into Shilin, with the exhibition period running from 2017/10/20 to 12/15. It set five major themes: Flip, Dialogue, Connect, Open, and Light, each presented in a unique way.

▲Playground equipment once considered waste is now showcasing a brand-new look through disassembly, reorganization, and design. (Photo /HowToTrip Foncc - Travel Information SharingProvided. No unauthorized photography to avoid copyright infringement.)

What should we do to commemorate old playground equipment? Are they merely useless waste? Tying in with the theme of "Flip," Design at Taipei Street Corners disassembled many discarded play structures, redesigned them, and painted them in bright yellow, giving these old pieces a completely new appearance. It also brought fresh vibrancy to the black-and-white, lifeless space under the bridge piers.

▲The recycled old playground equipment flipped its former image of waste and transformed into a new highlight for photos. (Photo /HowToTrip Foncc - Travel Information SharingProvided. No unauthorized photography to avoid copyright infringement.)

Under the black-and-white bridge piers, a series of "Tiny Longing Micro-Light Installations" were lit up, using the shape of albizia flowers as the lamp design. At night, they resemble twinkling stars, creating a truly moving scene.

▲The Tiny Longing Micro-Light Installations, shaped like albizia flowers, illuminate the Shilin bridge piers. (Photo /HowToTrip Foncc - Travel Information SharingProvided. No unauthorized photography to avoid copyright infringement.)

▲The warm orange tones paired with albizia flower lamp decorations add a lot of atmosphere. (Photo /HowToTrip Foncc - Travel Information SharingProvided. No unauthorized photography to avoid copyright infringement.)

Before heading to the bustling Shilin Night Market for a feast of food, take some time to stroll around the Shilin bridge piers and take photos with these new artworks. "Design at Taipei Street Corners" has redefined people’s perception of old playground equipment, dressing these old items in bright yellow new attire full of vitality. The Shilin bridge piers are no longer just a dull and monotonous space. These art installations have truly "flipped" the public’s imagination of bridge piers as boring and empty.

Taipei Street Corners Design – Urban Home Play Station
Address: Opposite Zhongzheng Road at Exit 1 of Shilin MRT Station (Square under the MRT elevated structure)
Design installation display period: 2017/10/31 – 2017/12/15