Treasure Hill, Historical settlement in Taipei, Taiwan
Treasure Hill is a settlement perched on a hillside next to the Xindian River, with traditional houses connected by wooden staircases and narrow passages. The buildings cling to the slope and form a maze of walkways that wind between the older structures throughout the area.
The settlement began in the late 1940s when Kuomintang military veterans established an anti-aircraft position and built homes nearby. It grew from this military foundation into an independent community.
The settlement serves as a hub for contemporary art, where artists from around the world work and exhibit within the traditional houses. Visitors and creators share this space through collaborative projects that have transformed the traditional environment into an open creative workshop.
The site is best reached by taking the metro to Gongguan Station and walking south from there. The narrow staircases and tight passages require comfortable shoes and patience to navigate the various routes.
The area functions as a self-regulating ecosystem where residents filter grey water and compost organic waste naturally without large-scale infrastructure. A Finnish architect documented how this informal sustainable practice works, recognizing the effectiveness of these decentralized methods.
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