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New Nanmen Market Opens on Oct. 7th
2023-10-06
Nanmen Market holds a significant place in the memories of the residents of Taipei, a gathering place and a place for newcomers to explore the flavors of Taipei. However, having existed since the Japanese colonial era, its infrastructure was aging. As the demand for a larger, safer, more sustainable market rises, modernization is in order. After four years of reconstruction, Nanmen Market finally opened on October 7th, 2023, and is ready to embrace its new look.
Open to the Urban Fabric.
The new Nanmen Market building, designed with the concept of “Taipei’s Heartbeat,” creates a new space with 5 underground floors and 12 above-ground floors. Glass curtains and modern design allow copious natural light, establishing a transparent spatial relationship between the exterior and interior. Urban streets can now witness the market’s vitality, as windows connects the market with the surrounding urban fabric. The new Nanmen market is designed to serve as an energetic center of the community, and attract consumers of all generations.
Above the recessed corner square, staggered balconies open up the street corner view, symbolizing the connection between food, the market, and activities. This allows the market’s image to extend to the building, providing an open dining platform for offices in response to the lively atmosphere of the lower-level market. Upon entering the market, the high-ceilinged space on B1-2F immediately catches the eye, guiding light into the underground area. Large windows are installed on 1F and 2F, allowing pedestrians on the covered walkways to enjoy the comfortable interior environment. The dining area on the 2nd floor features extensive transparent glass walls, providing a panoramic view of the cityscape.
A Friendly, Clean , and Welcoming Taiwanese Market.
To improve the traditional market’s perception of poor hygiene conditions, the market’s layout is clearly planned, and an emphasis is placed on enhanced drainage and air exchange facilities in the design. This ensures that the market, as a whole, maintains cleanliness, dryness, and fresh air. The stall designs emphasize flexibility and transparency, creating storage space for vendors and reducing clutter.
Elderly individuals have always been the primary customer base for Nanmen Market. The design incorporates inclined signs that allow seniors to easily access information by simply looking up. As visual acuity tends to degrade with age, warm color tones dominate the indoor space and directional colors, creating a friendly environment that is easy for those with poorer eyesight to recognize. Non-slip and accessibility features ensure safe passage. The market’s stairwells use retro red and white bricks, and the exterior facade features traditional Taiwanese sunshades, preserving the cultural essence of Nanmen Market.
Re-using Old Aluminum Window Frames as Window Designs, a Sustainable Recycling Trend.
Though the old Nanmen Market building has been demolished, the old building materials still hold value for recycling. The new Nanmen Market building’s first-floor exterior on the Roosevelt Road side incorporates recycled aluminum window materials from the old building. These materials are professionally reconfigured into a stylish window design, symbolizing the blend of old and new heritage.
This project is a Gold-level green building. The 4th floor and rooftop feature green terraces for planting edible fruits and vegetables, providing an example of food agriculture education and urban beautification benefits. The rooftop space also includes solar panels for energy generation.
Closely Connected to MRT, Enabling a Large Consumer Base.
Nanmen Market’s underground will connect to the Taipei Metro Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station (MRT Line 4). In the future, both B1 and B2 will be conveniently linked to the market from within the MRT station. Along with the development of the Wanda Line, this will become a dual-track hub, allowing future MRT passengers to merge into the market, creating a mutually beneficial symbiotic model and consumption behavior.
Open the grand “Gate” to welcome everyone to the Nanmen Market! (The second character of Nanmen Market in Mandarin, 南門市場, is 門, which means gate)