As urban redevelopment continues to reshape Taiwan’s cities, many self-built military dependents’ villages—lacking the legal protection and public attention afforded to officially designated military villages—are rapidly disappearing. Along with these settlements, valuable community memories, cultural landscapes, and neighborhood networks are also at risk of being lost.
To preserve and re-examine these disappearing communities, Professor Wei-Kuang Liu of the Department of Landscape Architecture at Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) is leading the USR HUB project, “Exploring Community Life and a Sustainable Future for Military Dependents’ Villages.” In collaboration with the Hsinchu City Cultural Affairs Bureau on the Survey Project of Self-Built Military Dependents’ Villages Surrounding the Hsinchu No. 6 Fuel Factory, the research findings have been incorporated into the junior-level required course Environmental Planning and Design (II).
Under the theme “Culture-Oriented Urban Design: Envisioning the Future of the Self-Built Military Dependents’ Villages Around Hsinchu’s No. 6 Fuel Factory,” students conducted field investigations, interviewed local residents, and participated in community engagement activities in neighborhoods including Guangfu New Village, Lane 52, Jianguo Road, and Hainan Village. Through these hands-on experiences, students explored design strategies that balance cultural heritage preservation with sustainable urban development while gaining a deeper understanding of the social value and historical significance of these unique communities.
After a semester of fieldwork and community engagement, CYCU students transformed residents’ oral histories, neighborhood patterns, and collective memories into urban design proposals that address the challenges of preserving self-built military dependents’ villages amid urban redevelopment. Some proposals sought to preserve the villages’ distinctive alleyway networks while introducing co-living spaces for young residents, while others integrated cultural heritage tours with shared community spaces to revitalize the neighborhoods without losing their historical identity.
Rather than advocating large-scale demolition and reconstruction, the students embraced a conservation-led development approach, demonstrating how thoughtful design can preserve local heritage while meeting the evolving needs of contemporary urban living.
Throughout the course, students worked closely with local residents to document the history of the settlements, personal life stories, and the evolution of the communities over time. In addition to conducting interviews, they facilitated participatory mapping workshops, collaborating with residents to identify places that hold personal and collective meaning.
By mapping childhood playgrounds, neighborhood gathering spaces, and everyday walking routes, students gained a deeper understanding of how individual experiences shape a community’s cultural landscape. The project also highlighted that a place’s true value lies not only in its buildings and streets, but also in the relationships, shared memories, and everyday knowledge cultivated by generations of residents.
The project also transformed students’ understanding of the relationship between urban design and local culture. Yi-Chen Chou, a student in the course, reflected that she had previously approached design primarily from a spatial perspective. Through the fieldwork, however, she learned to identify a place’s unique character by examining its landscape, historical development, and residents’ lived experiences.
“For me, urban design is no longer just about shaping physical spaces,” Chou said. “It is about responding to cultural heritage, environmental contexts, and future community needs. Only by understanding the stories and identity of a place can design truly reflect and sustain its local character.”
To broaden students’ perspectives on heritage preservation, Chia-Lin Chao, Dean of the College of Design at CYCU, shared his experience in preserving the Hsinchu No. 6 Fuel Factory and its surrounding communities. He emphasized that self-built military dependents’ villages should be viewed as valuable cultural assets rather than obstacles to urban development. By preserving their unique character and collective memory while adapting them to contemporary needs, cities can achieve more sustainable and inclusive development.
The course concluded with the “Reviving Communities” exhibition and an expert forum on June 23, showcasing eight outstanding student projects at Wenjiao New Town.Professor Wei-Kuang Liu described the exhibition as the beginning of a broader conversation about the future of self-built military dependents’ villages. Through students’ design proposals and interdisciplinary dialogue, the project seeks to promote cultural heritage preservation while encouraging more sustainable and people-centered urban development.
CYCU believes that universities serve not only as centers of learning, but also as platforms for connecting with communities and addressing real-world challenges. By integrating teaching, research, and hands-on practice, the University empowers students to engage with issues such as cultural heritage preservation, urban development, and civic participation, preparing future professionals with both disciplinary expertise and a strong sense of social responsibility.
