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General’s Village Phase II
Jincheng New Village was constructed around the August 23 Artillery Battle to house officers and families of the Kinmen Defense Command. The once-vibrant community eventually yielded to time's passage and was ordered to relocate in 2012. As the former “Generals' Village” faced deterioration and risked fading from urban memory, it was revitalized through the Ministry of Culture's “Reconstructing Historic Sites” project. Following a two-phase restoration of 15 structures, it has re-emerged as an “Open Library Information Park.” The 15 entrances have unveiled four major fields of study - “Homeland,” “Tradition,” “Nature,” and “Future” - encompassing 16 subjects, presenting diverse knowledge aspects akin to decoding a book's classification system.
Meandering under old tree canopies and between houses and corridors, one traverses a space where history and cultural innovation intertwine. The revival of human activity and adaptive reuse of spaces have become pivotal to the Generals' Village's rebirth.The Generals' Village, influenced by residents' needs and financial constraints, evolved organically from 1960 to 2012 on its original structural foundation, preserving traces of different eras throughout. Presenting the significance of each era while also integrating modern construction methods, technology, and materials posed a delicate challenge. Fair-faced concrete techniques, dry terrazzo methods, weathering steel, and matte water-repellent coatings were subtly employed, enabling the buildings to continue their dialogue with evolving times through restoration.
Addressing the integration of old and new and bridging historical gaps required restrained design ambitions. Holistic thinking was necessary regarding interior spaces for academic subjects, connections to the external environment, and overall circulation planning. Site-wide resources were inventoried and categorized, with flexible adjustments to preservation objectives and protection strategies. “Cultural asset restoration” extends beyond document review; on-site inspections should be as meticulous as studying ancient texts, as surprises often lie beneath layers of inhabitation. For instance, in the second construction phase, authentic terrazzo flooring was discovered beneath deteriorating plastic floors, with occasional lifelike goldfish designs crafted from copper strips - undoubtedly a testament to the era's vernacular aesthetics.
The arrangement of 15 houses and 16 subjects across the site respects the historical buildings' essence and developmental logic. As the “community” transforms into a “park,” new connections are established to meet revitalization goals. For example, walls once defining private domains are selectively preserved, transformed into permeable fences or low walls for seating, becoming nodes of memory.
The previously overgrown vegetation has been pruned, evolving from a mosquito breeding ground into a key landscape element. Retained longan, mango, lychee, star fruit, and magnolia trees provide fragrant canopies. The Generals' Village's six-decade-old greenery now incorporates ecological education and food and agricultural education concepts, fostering new neighborhood relationships. Together with the regenerated historical structures, it progresses towards a sustainable future.
