Wood City 2.0 Work Settlement in Chiayi City

City Born from Wood

In 1914, the development of the timber industry began, giving rise to a series of related communities, knowledge, skills, experiences, stories, lifestyles, habits, values, and more in Chiayi City. These elements have nurtured the local history and culture. "Wood Town 2.0 Work Community" positions the old Chiayi Prison dormitories as the base for Wood Town 2.0 and the cultivation of the timber industry’s transformation. It not only reconnects with the historical context of being a timber capital, but also provides a space for promoting wood culture and innovating the wood industry. The community team has resided there for seven years, starting with self-funded construction studios, and establishing deep connections and relationships with dormitory residents and local youth through self-organized activities.

Through long-term presence, observation, action, disruption, and cross-domain collaboration, the team has witnessed the expectations of local youth, the needs of community residents, the recognition of local businesses, the consensus for revitalization from the government, and the potential power of the market. By operating a diverse community on a long-term basis, the team organizes woodworking workshops, experiential courses, cultural promotion activities, and more. They aim to incorporate environmental and aesthetic elements into community activities, from artistic highlights to curated exhibitions and practical environmental education, in order to foster a sense of belonging and deepen the identification of Chiayi as a wood town through collaborative and hands-on practices within the local community.

 Local Regeneration Laboratory

This community has three cultural heritage identities, the settlement buildings, designated historic sites, and historical architecture. Its regional value lies in various aspects such as prison culture, architectural techniques, and historical context.

The team connects diverse communities in a concentric manner, linking communities from the inside out. For example, the Corrective Institute 1921-Old Prison 134 Operations Center, Fuzhang Fine Wood Workshop, Luma & Succulent, and 389 Studio collectively outline a contemporary wood culture. They also collaborate with nearby schools such as Hugo Kindergarten, Affiliated Experimental Elementary School of National Chiayi University, Beixing Junior High School, etc., to promote understanding of Chiayi's wood culture and expand outward layer by layer through experiencing the cultural context of historical reenactment in real-life settings.

Transformation and Rebirth

Transforming the cultural and heritage value of the old prison into service products drive the commercial nature of the site through cross-domain collaboration and business integration. The second aspect is to ensure continuous vitality of the community, attracting like-minded units to join and bring more creativity and energy to the entire old prison area, thereby providing positive motivation for Chiayi City.