Park Landscapes Reach New Heights: Three Taipei Parks Win Major Awards

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported

Taipei City’s “Dagang X?? Target Land Project,” “Shibalidian Target Land Project,” and “Jinghe Target Land Project” have been honored at the “2018 Fourth Taiwan Landscape Award.” The Dagang X?? Target Land Project’s environmental facility design “Premium Version” and the Shibalidian Target Land Project and Jinghe Target Land Project won “Finalist Awards” in the community revitalization and landscape planning categories respectively. The Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture held the award ceremony on January 12 at Taipei International Arts Village.

The Dagang X?? is located in the bustling area of Zhongzheng District and was awarded in October last year by the jury of the China Architecture Golden Stone Awards Committee, receiving the prestigious “Outstanding Public Construction / Outstanding Space Revitalization – Construction Category Golden Stone Award.” In December, it went on to compete in the environmental facility category of the Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture Award, standing out among numerous entries to win the “Quality Award.”

The Dagang X?? aims to create an “urban forest buffer,” providing the public with rich plant landscapes and a natural leisure experience. It introduces high-canopy tree species and ground cover plants, forming a multi-layered green structure. At the highest point, there is the “Sky Garden,” offering visitors panoramic views and allowing them to enjoy shade and coolness.

The all-age “inclusive playground” offers fun for parents and children alike, enriching children’s play experiences. The play area and entrances all adopt universal design for accessibility and include a multi-person flying saucer swing. Additionally, next to the sandbox, there is a sand table accessible by wheelchairs and strollers for various user groups. To increase the challenge level of play equipment, the playground includes a terrain-varied experience called “Adventure Hill.”

Dunren Park was formerly the “Dunhua South Road Police Station.” The original cemented space has been transformed into an urban “tree courtyard,” creating a soft shaded resting area nestled within the city fabric. With environmental sustainability and site water retention as key design principles, it offers a rare green breathing space in the city. To allow rainwater to seep into the soil, the park uses permeable paving and incorporates site water retention by installing a “rain tank” beneath the lawn to collect and recycle rainwater for regular irrigation of plants within the park.