From July 5 to 12, 2026, the Canal and Waterway USR Project of the College of Design at Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) traveled to Taiping, Malaysia, to co-host an International Design Workshop with UCSI University. In collaboration with the NGO CollLab and Hua Lian High School, the workshop brought together faculty members and students from Taiwan and Malaysia for field investigations, hands-on design projects, and cross-cultural exchanges. Together, participants explored the intersections of water culture, design, and environmental sustainability, showcasing CYCU’s commitment to advancing its University Social Responsibility (USR) initiatives through international collaboration.
Centered on the theme of water culture, the workshop encouraged students to investigate the relationship between natural landscapes and local history through immersive field studies. Participants visited four significant sites in Taiping: Maxwell Hill, Burmese Pool, the Centenary Laundry, and Taiping Lake Gardens. Connected by an integrated hydrological system, these sites illustrate how the city has evolved alongside its abundant water resources, providing students with a rich foundation for design inquiry and creative exploration.
Following the field investigations, student teams developed site-specific design proposals inspired by the unique characteristics of each location. Using natural materials such as bamboo, they constructed landscape installations that blended seamlessly with the surrounding environment while responding to local culture, historical heritage, and community needs. Through these design interventions, the students envisioned the sites not only as public spaces for recreation, but also as platforms for cultural preservation, environmental education, and international exchange.
Professor Chen Chi-Peng of CYCU’s Department of Interior Design emphasized that the workshop represented far more than an international design exchange. It also served as an opportunity to bring the university’s long-standing experience in pond education and water culture research to Malaysia. By fostering dialogue and hands-on collaboration around diverse waterscapes, the program sought to strengthen local awareness of environmental education and cultural preservation while establishing a long-term collaborative network between Taiwan and Malaysia, putting the university’s commitment to social responsibility into practice.
During the final presentations, each team shared its design concepts, creative process, and site observations, highlighting the fresh perspectives gained through cross-cultural collaboration. Hung Hsing-Yu, a CYCU student, noted that although Taiping’s former tin-mining lakes and Taoyuan’s irrigation ponds were formed under very different circumstances, they also differ significantly in form and function. Translating familiar concepts of water-based landscapes into an entirely new local context therefore became the team’s greatest challenge. Gasten, a student from UCSI University, said the workshop encouraged him to move beyond the conventional framework of architectural design and develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between trees, water resources, and human environments, while learning new approaches to landscape observation and environmental design.
The workshop also strengthened partnerships in local education. Wang Ming-Yu, Principal of Hua Lian High School, expressed his hope of drawing inspiration from CYCU’s USR philosophy of “One Pond, One School, One Community” by creating a campus corridor dedicated to local stories. The initiative will document Taiping’s history, culture, and everyday life, enabling students to develop a deeper understanding of and connection to their hometown through daily learning experiences.
The workshop also welcomed the participation of David Chiang, President of the Taiping Heritage Society; former President Liew Suet Fun; and Tsai Wen-Hsing, Director of Academic Affairs at Hua Lian High School. Their presence underscored the growing partnership between Taiwan and Malaysia in advancing local culture, environmental education, and sustainable development through design-based collaboration.
CYCU noted that the international design workshop demonstrated how cross-border collaboration, community engagement, and design practice can bring together students and faculty from diverse cultural backgrounds to explore the value of water culture and environmental sustainability. The program highlighted the power of design to connect people, place, and culture while reflecting the university’s commitment to holistic education. Looking ahead, the Canal and Waterway USR Project will continue to foster interdisciplinary partnerships, using design as a catalyst for community revitalization, cultural preservation, and international exchange while contributing to the long-term sustainable development of local communities.
