Hsinchu’s architectural identity is rooted in its red soil, which supported brick-making since the 18th century and shaped the city’s urban character. During the Japanese colonial period (1895–1945), red brick buildings and arcaded streets became defining elements, introducing rhythm, shelter, and civic elegance. These arches formed a continuous urban language that remains embedded in Hsinchu’s collective memory.

As farmland gradually gave way to vertical urban development, the organic connection between people, land, soil, and water was disrupted. Traditional passages shaped by agricultural patterns disappeared, resulting in an emotionally detached urban environment. Yet remnants of old villages and commercial streets still exist near the site, offering a foundation for reinterpreting spatial continuity between past and present.

The project adopts an organic development logic, evolving from house to street to village. Each building is defined by an arched opening, collectively forming a cohesive “City of Arch.” Through repetition and variation, the arch becomes a unifying architectural element that connects private dwellings with public streets, establishing a clear spatial hierarchy and human-scale urban rhythm.

Situated within a farmland context, the design integrates architecture with the surrounding landscape through parks, courtyards, and rooftop gardens. These spaces are conceived as spatial extensions of the farmland rather than decorative features, softening the boundary between urban and rural environments and reinforcing ecological continuity.

Inspired by local village life, the project embraces spatial porosity and flexibility. Undefined spaces are intentionally designed to accommodate multiple uses—gathering, play, markets, or everyday activities—encouraging social interaction and adaptive living. Water and circulation systems are treated as shared spatial experiences, reinforcing the relationship between people and place.