Name: Huashan 1914 Creative Park
Address: No. 1號, Section 1, Bade Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Telephone: 02 2358 1914
Rating: 4.4

Cultural hub in an old sake winery featuring shops & showcasing local art, film, crafts & events.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Provided by Google

Taipei Zoo

Taipei 101 Shopping center

林家豪

David wang

小安安

Steve Hicks

たか旅

National Palace Museum

Yehliu Geopark

野柳地質公園

Joe Heart Chua

Steve Kim

chun Chen

Jong doo Choi

Huashan 1914 Creative Park was originally the Taihoku Winery, established in 1914 during the Japanese colonial period.

Original Brewery

Initially, the brewery primarily produced rice wine, a staple in Taiwanese culture.

Early Production

After production ceased in 1987, the site was abandoned for a time, facing potential demolition before being recognized for its historical and cultural value.

Period of Neglect

The area was reborn as a creative park in 2007, transforming from an industrial site into a hub for arts, design, and cultural events.

Rebirth as a Park

The park retains much of its original red brick architecture, offering a glimpse into Taiwan's industrial past.

Architectural Style

Huashan 1914 is known for showcasing independent artists, designers, and performers, providing a platform for emerging talent.

Focus on Indie Arts

Huashan 1914 Creative Park

Huashan 1914 Creative Park, a revitalized sake brewery from the Japanese colonial era, stands as a testament to Taipei's commitment to cultural preservation and artistic innovation. Unlike typical repurposed industrial spaces, Huashan retains much of its original architectural character, allowing visitors to experience the tangible history embedded within its walls. The park's unique layout, a network of interconnected warehouses and fermentation tanks, now houses independent galleries, design studios, and performance spaces. One often overlooked aspect is the park's role in fostering Taiwan's burgeoning independent music scene, with many bands finding their initial audiences in its intimate venues. The park's commitment to showcasing experimental art forms, often pushing boundaries and challenging conventional norms, distinguishes it from more commercially oriented cultural hubs. Furthermore, the integration of green spaces and public art installations creates a dynamic interplay between the industrial past and the contemporary artistic present, making it a truly unique urban oasis.

Introduction

Huashan 1914 Creative Park originated as the Taihoku Winery, established in 1914 during Japanese rule as a privately-owned winery named Houji Distillery. It produced sake, ginseng wines, and even bred moth orchids, marking a modern approach to alcohol production in Taiwan with imported machinery and refrigeration. In 1922, the Japanese government monopolized wine production, acquiring the winery and renaming it Taiwan Governor-General's Monopoly Bureau, Taihoku Wine Factory, shifting its focus to rice wine and liquors.

After 1945, the ROC Government took over, renaming it Taiwan Province Monopoly Bureau, Taipei Wine Factory. By 1949, it became Taiwan Province Tobacco and Wine Government Monopoly Bureau, Taipei First Winery, producing the cheap, cassava-based Taibai Liquor, a staple drink for many. The mid-1960s saw another name change to Fruit Wine Factory, with rice wine gaining prominence and fruit wine development marking a golden age.

However, by 1987, urbanization, pollution, and rising land prices forced the winery's relocation to Linkou District. In 1997, the Golden Bough Theater Group's unauthorized performance sparked a movement to preserve the abandoned site. In 2003, the Council for Cultural Affairs took over, leading to a reconstruction and the opening of Huashan 1914 Creative Park in 2005, offering a space for artists and non-profits. The park retains buildings from the Japanese colonial-era, including the Silian Building and the Rice Wine Factory, now historical sites, reflecting its rich industrial past.

Taihoku Winery History

Huashan 1914 Creative Park exemplifies an urban regeneration model, transforming the former Taipei Distillery, a Japanese-era factory, into a vibrant cultural space. Facing demolition in the early 1990s, the site was saved by artists and activists who advocated for its preservation and conversion into an arts center, mirroring successful European urban regeneration projects.

The park's development involved restoring old buildings and warehouses, turning them into performance venues, cinemas, exhibition spaces, and commercial areas. This blend of public and private sector cooperation has been crucial, allowing the park to become financially self-sufficient and a model for similar projects nationwide.

Huashan's success lies in its ability to balance cultural promotion with commercial viability. While it provides a platform for Taiwan's artistic talent and innovation, it also hosts commercial events and showrooms, generating revenue for its upkeep. This commercialization, however, has led to some displacement of original artists.

Despite these challenges, Huashan remains a key venue for cultural events, exhibitions, and performances, drawing both locals and tourists. Its transformation from an abandoned factory to a thriving creative hub showcases the potential of urban regeneration to revitalize historic properties and foster cultural development. The park's ongoing evolution ensures that each visit offers a unique experience, solidifying its role as a dynamic space in Taipei's cultural landscape.

Urban Regeneration Model

Huashan 1914 Creative Park's evolution into a cultural park embodies Taiwan's urban regeneration and cultural preservation efforts. Originally the Taihoku Winery, established by the Japanese in 1914, the site transitioned from industrial use to a cultural hub following the winery's relocation in 1987. After nearly a decade of abandonment, local artists initiated underground exhibitions, catalyzing a movement to preserve the site.

In 1998, the TTL Monopoly Bureau leased the property to the Ministry of Culture, setting the stage for its transformation into an arts and cultural venue. Officially established as the Huashan Arts and Culture Space in 1999, it gained further recognition in 2003 as a "culture and creative park," securing its status among Taiwan's protected historic buildings.

The Executive Yuan's national development plan allocated significant funds for converting disused spaces into cultural parks, including Huashan. By 2007, after restoration and modernization, the park adopted a 'build-operate-transfer scheme,' partnering with private enterprises for operation. This model ensured the park's financial sustainability, allowing it to become a profitable enterprise by 2015.

Huashan's success lies in its ability to balance cultural promotion with commercial viability. While some original artists were displaced due to commercialization, the park has become a premier venue for cultural events, exhibitions, and performances. Its transformation showcases how historic industrial sites can be revitalized into dynamic spaces that celebrate both history and contemporary creativity.

Cultural Park Evolution

Huashan 1914 Creative Park exemplifies artistic transformation, evolving from the Taihoku Winery, established during Japanese rule, into a vibrant cultural hub. Originally slated for demolition and redevelopment into a legislative assembly space, the site was saved by local artists and civic groups who recognized its potential as an arts center. Their efforts led to the preservation of the factory buildings and red-brick warehouses, transforming them into exhibition spaces and cultural venues.

The park's metamorphosis gained momentum when the TTL Monopoly Bureau leased the property to the Ministry of Culture, establishing the Huashan Arts and Culture Space. This was further solidified by a national development plan that recognized Huashan as a "culture and creative park," leading to its restoration and modernization. The site's transformation was completed in 2007, with the opening of the Huashan 1914 Creative Park.

Today, Huashan 1914 Creative Park showcases Taiwan's artistic talent and provides a space for innovation and creativity. It hosts a diverse array of cultural events, exhibitions, and performances, drawing both locals and tourists. The park's success has become a model for urban regeneration, inspiring the transformation of other historic properties into creative spaces across Taiwan. It stands as a testament to the power of artistic vision and community action in revitalizing urban landscapes.

Artistic Transformation

Huashan 1914 Creative Park stands as Taipei's premier hub for cultural and creative arts, transforming Taiwan's artistic talent into a profitable enterprise. Originally the Taihoku Winery, established in 1914 during the Japanese colonial era, the site's repurposing underscores a commitment to urban regeneration, mirroring European models by restoring historic buildings into vibrant spaces. This transformation was driven by artists and activists who successfully campaigned to preserve the site, preventing its demolition and conversion into a legislative assembly.

The park's operational model blends public and private sector cooperation, ensuring financial sustainability while fostering creativity. This approach allows for the restoration of historic buildings and their conversion into spaces that support the creative industries. Huashan hosts a dynamic array of cultural events, exhibitions, art galleries, pop-up stores, theater productions, and musical performances. It is also home to Legacy, a key venue for Taiwan's indie music scene, and SPOT, an independent movie theater, attracting a diverse mix of artists, entrepreneurs, and visitors.

Huashan's success has become a model for historic properties nationwide, with similar creative spaces emerging in other major Taiwanese cities. The park provides opportunities for entrepreneurs to showcase innovation, renting spaces to independent artists and artisan workshops, excluding major chain stores to nurture Taiwan’s design scene. This focus on local talent makes Huashan an ideal place to acquire authentic, Taiwan-made souvenirs, supporting the nation's burgeoning creative economy.

Creative Industries Hub

Huashan 1914 Creative Park, originally established in 1914 during the Japanese colonial era, stands as a significant example of repurposed Japanese-era industrial architecture in Taipei. Initially named Houji Distillery, then Taihoku Distillery, it produced sake and other liquors, reflecting Japanese influence on local industries. The park's name, Huashan, is derived from Huashanding, the Japanese name of the district, itself named after Kabayama Sukenori, the first Japanese Governor-General of Taiwan, highlighting the deep historical connections to this period.

After the departure of the Japanese in 1945, the Republic of China took control, shifting production to fruit wines. However, by 1987, the distillery was abandoned due to urbanization and pollution. The site's preservation is notable, considering that many similar industrial buildings from the Japanese colonial period were not saved. This preservation reflects a unique sense of nostalgia and appreciation for Japanese influences in Taiwan.

The transformation of the former Taihoku Distillery into a creative park represents a broader trend of urban regeneration, mirroring European models of restoring historic buildings. Today, the park's blend of restored Japanese-era structures and contemporary art spaces serves as a reminder of Taiwan's complex history and its ability to integrate its colonial past into its modern identity. The park's success has inspired similar projects across Taiwan, converting old facilities into vibrant cultural venues.

Huashan 1914 Creative Park

Did You Know?

Original Brewery

Early Production

Period of Neglect

Rebirth as a Park

Highlights from Reviews

Location