Taipei is a global city with a population of 2.7m, which has undergone rapid urban growth since the 1960s. It is now one of the most densely-populated urban areas in the world, being physically constrained by being at the confluence of 3 major rivers, and by the steeply-rising Yangmingshan National Park and volcanic Quixing Mountains. It is is also in a very active tectonic zone (which we have experienced first-hand!).
The City Government of Taipei and Government of Taiwan has had a long-standing working relationship with INTA, and has commissioned several international expert panels. In 2016 we were invited to join one to advise on the future of 2 large strategic sites in the city, both currently major transportation hubs. The team’s work involved a series of intensive analysis, site visits, public workshops and debates, undertaken in both English and Mandarin Chinese. A final extensive report of our findings and recommendations, written in both languages, was prepared, which included examples of global best practice in Transport-Orientated Development (‘TOD’); critical success factors in successful major project delivery; a development framework for measuring stakeholder engagement; and a balanced delivery plan of initiatives which would enhance the urban environment of Taipei City.
We subsequently hosted two inward visits from delegations from Taiwan to France and the UK in 2016 and 2017 from the City Government of Taipei and The Real Estate Development Association of Taipei to visit and discuss in-depth case studies of relevance in Europe.
We were invited to return to Taipei in 2018 to participate in a further series of collaborative workshops with the City Government of Taipei, Government of Taiwan and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. Kerri Farnsworth was also then invited to make a keynote presentation at an international conference organized by The Real Estate Development Association of Taipei and Federation of the Real Estate Development Associations of the Republic of China.
Further collaboration with the city government is ongoing.
