Railway paths become circular trails that teach history through footsteps.
A circular pathway traces the exact route where sugarcane once traveled by rail. Yong Quan, the Golden A' Design Award winning public park designed by Ching-I Wu in Taichung, Taiwan, transforms a former sugar factory into 22,672 square meters of ecological landscape where visitors walk industrial history with every step. The design team at S.D. Atelier Design and Planning approached the abandoned site with archaeological precision, reading hidden narratives before drawing a single line. Railway tracks became trail spines. The factory dependence on water informed a central lake fed by underground systems using springs and gravel layers. The main factory building now anchors a wide gathering square. For enterprises considering heritage regeneration projects, Yong Quan demonstrates that industrial sites carry stories waiting to become spatial experiences.
The underground hydrology at Yong Quan reveals sophisticated thinking about sustainable infrastructure. The design channels water through engineered tunnel systems that work with natural groundwater patterns, supporting permanent ponds, aquatic plants, and water bird habitats without continuous artificial intervention. Forest and hill landscapes south of the central square create diverse microhabitats through intentional irregularity that mimics natural riverside slopes. An elevated wood deck connects visitors to an island on the central lake, establishing a platform for ecological education. For brands commissioning large scale landscape projects, the Yong Quan approach demonstrates how working with natural systems produces operational efficiency alongside environmental positioning. The Golden A' Design Award recognition validates the integration of heritage preservation with ecological thinking, creating portfolio evidence that strengthens organizational credibility across stakeholder relationships.
Every abandoned factory carries two stories: what once was and what could become. Yong Quan proves that circular pathways tracing railway ghosts, underground water systems supporting permanent ecosystems, and forest landscapes inviting wildlife coexist beautifully with industrial heritage. What dormant sites in your community await transformation into ecological landmarks that serve generations?
