HPW Badouzi Harbour Commercial Centre

The site is a former ice factory serving local fishing vessels, situated at an attractive fishing harbour in Keelung city, Taiwan, with a strong fishing community and long local history. In recent years, local tourism is on the rise, and the surroundings are dotted with seafood eateries and restaurants serving local tourists and families. The local harbour development plan seeks over the long-term to both reinforce the area's fishing heritage whilst promoting recreational and tourism development. After years of neglect and functional obsolescence, some former waterfront manufacturing land is being rezoned for mixed use facilities, and there is potential for change.

The disused factory is re-designed and transformed into a vibrant commercial destination, showcasing local seafood and harbour-side scenery. Inside, the building combines shops, cafés and restaurants with seafood processing and a tourism factory. New restaurants with views of the harbour occupy the upper levels.

Generously proportioned arch windows are created on all four sides, opening up the interior to light and views. Recessed balconies are created along the new main facades, creating temperate zones shaded from the elements, whilst adding depth to the architecture. An attractive new exterior finishing is created, using high quality, richly textured clay tiles. Resistance to sea-side weathering is considered.

Making use of the existing structure, and generous floor heights, much of the original reinforced concrete framework is retained whilst adding necessary structural reinforcement, enhancing the building's seismic resistance. Existing concrete walls are carefully maintained and treated.

These elements evoke not only the welcoming imagery of great harbour-side destinations around the world, but also evoke some of the older harbour-side public buildings in the Keelung area - some of which are now being restored to former glory in light of growing tourism in the region. Together these historical elements and newly vitalised buildings give a new vitality to the built fabric of these charming seaside neighbourhoods.