The New Construction Office, Public Works Bureau, Taipei City Government has been recognized once again. It won the National Golden Award for Architecture for the Nanmen Building and Market Reconstruction Turnkey Project. The awards ceremony was hosted by the Republic of China National Enterprise Competitiveness Development Association at CPC Building's Guoguang Hall on October 22, 2024.
The New Construction Office noted that the Nanmen Building and Market Reconstruction Turnkey Project was awarded on May 31, 2019, and completed on October 4, 2023. Throughout the process, the project team engaged in active communication with market vendors and various units involved. The design work was carried out by Bio Architecture Formosana, known for its achievements in constructing green buildings such as Taipei Public Library - Beitou Branch. This project, based on the design concept of “Taipei's Heartbeat,” focuses on bringing abundant natural light from the north into the indoor space, making this market area bright and open. The new Nanmen Building is located near the entrances and exits of the two metro lines, forming a tight connection with the city and linking the transportation system with the market. This fosters a mutually beneficial relationship and encourages purchases, enhancing the market's vitality.
During the period of Japanese rule, Nanmen Market served as an outdoor marketplace of Chitose Town beyond the South Gate. Over time, it has seen multiple reconstructions and is Taipei's oldest public traditional market. It has been known for its offerings of Jiangsu and Zhejiang cuisine and dry foods. However, due to its outdated structure that fails to meet current seismic code, along with inadequate mechanical and electrical systems for modern market demands, the Taipei City Government initiated the Nanmen Building and Market Reconstruction Turnkey Project.
The construction of Nanmen Market faced many challenges, such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, increased costs for labor and materials, a cramped site with tricky logistics, and delays due to the rainy season during steelwork. However, thanks to the combined efforts of the city government's team in coordinating resources and the awarded contractor's engineering team displaying unwavering commitment and teamwork, they managed to persist and overcome obstacles, successfully completing the Nanmen Market construction on schedule.
With the opening of the new Nanmen Market, its facilities, lighting, and hygiene have all reached a high standard. Combined with the strong vendor community, the market is set to become a new landmark in Taipei. The city government will keep working with different departments, such as the Department of Information and Tourism and the Department of Transportation, to further improve the market's accessibility, especially with the future completion of the MRT Wanda Line. Additionally, ongoing promotion efforts will be made for Nanmen Market to become a bustling hub and a true icon of Taipei.
