URBD 5703 Urban History & Theory – Fall 2020
1
2
Image 1
A photograph of the Calligraphy
Greenway to demonstrate various
architectural components in related
to dynamic, displayed in the official
website of AECOM (2015).
The linear parks: Sustainable urban open space system of the Calligraphy Greenway
Calligraphy Greenway
Location: Taichung, Taiwan
Designer(s): AECOM
Year of completion: 2012
Area: 76,000m2
3
URBD 5703 Urban History & Theory – Fall 2020
Matthew Leung King Chi
The linear parks:
Sustainable urban open
space system of the
Calligraphy Greenway
The Calligraphy Greenway (Chinese: 草悟道) in TaiChung,
TaiWan was completed in 2012, designed by AECOM Asia
Company Ltd. in 2009, the winner of the tender proposal for
‘TaiChung Jade Necklace Jingguo Greenway Improvement
Scheme’ (台中翡翠項鍊經國園道改善計畫). Landscape
Urbanism was the key perspective that drives throughout the
design and planning as to preserve and create mutual memories
of the local community, provoke the recreational lifestyle and
ecological development under the rich atmosphere of arts and
culture1. Since TaiChung city was nominated as the “World’s
Best Cultural and Art City” by the World Leadership Forum in
2007, the City of TaiChung proposed to transform 6.5 hectares
greenbelt, 3.6 kilometers in length, into a community-oriented
greenway that circulate the heart of TaiChung. The space has
been rearranged into an ecological network like a green lung
of the city, so it draws visitors of the National Gallery, Science Museum and other attractions together and accelerates the
tourism, communities nearby (refer to image.2), and economic
development of the district. The project itself is one part of the
Taichung Jade Necklace (refer to image.3), that is the master
plan of an orbicular landscaping redevelopment scheme, the
Calligraphy Greenway takes place in the civic square Caowu
Square (Chinese: 草悟廣場) as a public space which connects
the National Museum of Natural Science and the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts.
The overall design of the project is expressed by its name ‘Calligraphy’ as it is derived from Chinese semi-cursive script (Chinese: 行草), that is a mixture style of running script (Chinese:
行書) and cursive script (Chinese: 草書) which was developed
in the last years of Han Dynasty (A.D. 184-220). The essence
of the semi-cursive script emphasises artistic expression over
legibility, that is implied into the dynamic form of the greenway
design. The metaphor of Chinese calligraphy has transformed
into realisation, in which had implemented as some physical
movements and landscape elements as to corresponding with
existing context and activities. The conceptual image of calligraphy then evolved into a three-dimensional spatial experience
with actual landscape paving and planting in place, the visitors
can experience and feel the beauty of traditional Chinese calligraphy through the space.
Latin word communis is the root of the word ‘community’
which associates to the sense of equality and sharing in between people. In this sense, the idea of common and togetherness are considered as the key that shapes a community with
better quality. Quayle (1997) suggested that it is possible to
achieve a ‘good balance between togetherness and individualism’2 with neighbourhood landscape as the planning element.
In terms of planning strategy, Ahern (1995) agreed that applying greenways are the ideal method to manage sustainable
landscapes in urban scale where biodiversity is considered as
an integral component throughout the landscape planning process3. Greenways also benefit the connectivity of the networks
within an urban as well, especially when it functions as a system that should address to multiples aspects including: nature
protection, biodiversity management, water resources, recreation, and cultural/historic resource protection4. Ahern (2002)
defined greenways planning as a strategic action that determine
on the goal of achieving a sustainable “greenway” network of
aecom.com. (2014). Taichung Calligraphy Greenway. [online] Available at: https://aecom.com/hk/projects/taichung-calligraphy-greenway/
Quayle, M. (1997). Growing community: A casefor hybrid landscapes. UtGersity of British Columbia, pp.99–107.
3
Ahern, J.F. (1995). Greenways as a planning strategy. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA, pp.131–155.
1
2
4
The linear parks: Sustainable urban open space system of the Calligraphy Greenway
“The name was chosen to draw a parallel to the
way the park snakes through both busy and quaint
neighborhoods of the city, as if written through
calligraphy.”
1
2
3
4
5
Image 2 [Top]
Conceptual diagram of the landscape
planning, displayed in press site:
backstage-world-architecture-news (2015)
Key architecture:
1. National Gallery
2. Taichung City Dadun Cultural Centre
3. Caowu Square
4. Science Museum
5. Botanical Garden of National Museum
(Edited by author)
Image 3 [Bottom Right]
Promotion of the TaiChung Jade Necklace
Jingguo Greenway Improvement
Scheme’ (台中翡翠項鍊經國園道改善計
畫), displayed in the official website of
the Construction Bureau of Taichung City
Government (2016)
Note: The dashed box in image.3 indicates
the boundary of the Calligraphy Greenway.
(Edited by author)
Matthew Leung
URBD 5703 Urban History & Theory – Fall 2020
5
Image 4
Aerial view of the overlapping
movement that the greenery, benches
and pavement intersect, displayed by
Urban Land Institute on flickr (2013)
protected lands, as it is a collaboration of theories of landscape
ecology and methods of landscape planning. In the perspective
of planning, space are attached physically and functionally for
compossible multiple purposes.
Urban greenways as a public space have the potential to increase citizen’s physical activity levels cost-effectively5. About
global public health problem, Dallat (2015) discussed in the
European Journal of Public Health, that numerous of chronic
diseases are due to ‘physical inactivity’. The United Nations
established the 2030 Agenda for 17 Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), so the accessibility of a public space is important for nowadays modern cities, greenway as public facility
should contributes to at least 3 of the SDGs. The Calligraphy
Greenway is a community-oriented urban infrastructure that
was designed for cultural activities, so as the preservation of
sustainable ecological environment, the project fulfilled the
following goals: Goal Number 9 ‘Industry, Innovation And
Infrastructure’; Goal Number 11 ‘Sustainable Cities And Communities’; Goal Number 15 ‘Life On Land’. First of all, the
greenway locates in the heart of the TaiChung city, having the
responsibility to connect the fragmentation of the city altogether, as it runs through the centres of cultural facilities, leisure or
tourist attractions and some nearby residential areas. Therefore,
a careful design decision must be taken in order to take care of
the multiple parties, that is one kind of an innovative infrastructure which encourages creative arts and cultural activities
to be organised in the city. Secondly, public health would be
improved with the sustainable development in the community6 where the greenway has not only created an economic
cycle that could be collaborating with the Caowu Square, the
National Gallery and Science Museum, but also created an
intangible connections between people, it could be in terms
of common values, beliefs, memories, cultural backgrounds,
etc… In general, the greenway should takes the most advantage of its location as well as its linear footprint, it protects
cultural resources and provides positive mental and physical
environment since there are more space for both recreational
and natural areas7 (Lee and Maheswaran, 2011, cited in Erika
and John, 2019, pp.153–171). Thirdly, ‘greenway’ by its name
can be described as a green corridor that is eco-friendly, the
quality of the ecological environment should be well managed
as it works like a lung for the city. Some green lands were
reclaimed by the landscape planning while some parts from the
Chinese calligraphy were to be designed as green fields that
the functions were then depend upon their areas. The ‘Green’
has played a significant role for shaping the dynamic movement of the greenway as it is observed that the green elements
actually blended-in with some artificial fixtures like benches,
paving and shelters. This benefited to the visitors with a sense
of being situated into nature comfortably, that it is a different
world out of the busy district. The land value of the adjacent
housing increased by more than 20% since the completion of
Ahern, J.F. (2002). Greenways as Strategic Landscape Planning: Theory and Application. Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
Dallat, M.A.T. (2015). Urban greenways have the potential to increase physical activity levels cost-effectively. European Journal of Public
Health, pp.190–195.
6
Gebel, K., Bauman, A. and Bull, F. (2010). Built environment: walkability of neighbourhoods. 1st ed. New York: Oxford University Press:
Evidence-Based Public Health Effectiveness and Efficiency, pp.289–312.
7
Erika, Y.C. and John, A.K. (2019). Prevalence of Ecological, Environmental, and Societal Objectives in Urban Greenway Master Plans. The
University of North Carolina Press: Southeastern Geographer, pp.153–171.
4
5
6
The linear parks: Sustainable urban open space system of the Calligraphy Greenway
“It also attracts many local residents to experience
the expressive aesthetic design and cultural atmosphere of the park. It has become a place for city
activities and performances, and a part of people’s
lives.”
Image 5 [Left]
A photograph of people in groups occupy
the space as different programs inside the
park, displayed in the offical website of The
American Institute of Architects (AIA Hong
Kong.org, 2013)
Image 6 [Right]
A photograph of social interaction activities
in nearby community, displayed in the
offical website of The American Institute of
Architects (AIA Hong Kong.org, 2013)
the Calligraphy Greenway8, this proves the successful impact of
the overall project as the greenway makes the city to becomes a
more pleasant place to live in.
Today, urban afforestation and green sustainable urban development have became a big topic for nowadays modern cities,
while people realise the importance of the living quality as
they live in a high-dense city when the urban developement
displaces over public space and natural environment. According
to the Sustainable Department of the United Nation, that there
are 47% of population live within 400 metres walking distance
to open public spaces9, the goal is to enhance the accessibility
and the proportional numbers of people who live close to public space. In this case, the ‘TaiChung Jade Necklace Jingguo
Greenway Improvement Scheme’ is a successful example that
the 17 kilometres long (total length) greenway is the composition of 7 sub-greenways including the Calligraphy Greenway
and 7 gardens, they formed together as a ‘Jade Necklace’ (cycle
of greenway) that all the way surround towards the heart of
TaiChung as part of the urban development from 2009-2013.
The greenway improves the quality of local community as
well as it encourages visitors to build any kinds of network
bondings inside or outside the green park. As a greenbelt for a
modern city, the leisure facilities provided in the greenway has
brought significant and positive impacts to the nearby communities, people gather and communicate to each others freely and
openly through the space (refer to image.5&6).
concrete and wood deck (refer to image.7). Together with the
efforts of preservating the natural environment, the Calligraphy
Greenway contributed on urban afforestation of the region by
stacking up elements of recreational public space and innovative ideas of landscape planning as it benefits the nearby community, and even to the city overall.
The changes in materials expressed the concept of ‘calligraphy’
when the pavement create overlapping patterns with grass,
8
AIA Hong Kong. (2013). Taichung Greenbelt, Taichung, Taiwan by AECOM Asia Company Ltd. [online] Available at: http://www.aiahk.org/portfolio-item/
taichung-greenbelt/
9
sdgs.un.org. (2020). Goal 11 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs. [online] Available at: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11.
Matthew Leung
7
URBD 5703 Urban History & Theory – Fall 2020
Image 7
Aerial view of the entrance of the
Calligraphy Greenway, displayed in
the offical website of The American
Institute of Architects
(AIA Hong Kong.org, 2013)
1. aecom.com. (2015). Taichung Calligraphy Greenway. [online] Available at: https://aecom.com/hk/projects/taichung-calligraphy-greenway/
[Accessed 24 Oct. 2020].
2. Quayle, M. (1997). Growing community: A casefor hybrid landscapes.
UtGersity of British Columbia, pp.99–107.
3. Ahern, J.F. (1995). Greenways as a planning strategy. University of
Massachusetts, Amherst, USA, pp.131–155.
4. Ahern, J.F. (2002). Greenways as Strategic Landscape Planning:
Theory and Application. Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
5. Dallat, M.A.T. (2015). Urban greenways have the potential to increase
physical activity levels cost-effectively. European Journal of Public
Health, pp.190–195.
6. Gebel, K., Bauman, A. and Bull, F. (2010). Built environment: walkability of neighbourhoods. 1st ed. New York: Oxford University Press:
Evidence-Based Public Health Effectiveness and Efficiency, pp.289–
312.
7. Erika, Y.C. and John, A.K. (2019). Prevalence of Ecological, Environmental, and Societal Objectives in Urban Greenway Master Plans.
The University of North Carolina Press: Southeastern Geographer,
pp.153–171.
8. AIA Hong Kong. (2013). Taichung Greenbelt, Taichung, Taiwan by
AECOM Asia Company Ltd. [online] Available at: http://www.aiahk.org/
portfolio-item/taichung-greenbelt/
[Accessed 28 Oct. 2020].
9. sdgs.un.org. (2020). Goal 11 | Department of Economic and Social
Affairs. [online] Available at: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11/
[Accessed 24 Oct. 2020].
8