This was an exercise to plan a large area near the tech research and manufacturing center of Hsinchu. An irregular shaped site traversed by waterways, roadways, railways, and existing low-rise settlements provided some challenges in terms of configuring uses. One waterway connecting to an existing development area focused on a lakeside park to the south became a major organizing element of the plan.

The project has made significant progress in terms of new, high-rise residential and the plan is about 30% complete (so far, this is about 60 towers of 20-30 stories each, most of which have ground level retail/F&B). New rail has been put in place and new stations have been/will continue to be added.

This new/redeveloping neighborhood - the Guanxin Borough of the East District of Hsinchu City - now stands out as the most affluent area in Taiwan based on household income (nearly NT$5 million), a level unmatched anywhere else in the country (surpassing other well-known districts in Taipei such as Xinyi and Yangmingshan). This affluence is largely due to its proximity to the Hsinchu Science Park, where many residents work in high-paying technology jobs at major companies like TSMC and MediaTek.

The surrounding Redevelopment Zone within East District is popular among tech professionals and expatriates. It features high-rise residential buildings that are mostly new, primarily developed for investment and upscale rentals. These units tend to be smaller than those in nearby regions but offer prestigious living along with modern amenities.

Role: Brian Jennett was the lead designer for this effort and produced the drawings and presentation while employed at Haigo Shen International Engineering Consultants.