Interview on Chia Chen Liu’s Approach to Sustainable & Meaningful Architectural Designs

Hi! I'm Chia Chen Liu and I'm a Hakka from a farming family, in Pingtung, Taiwan. I love to draw and observe. My main interest is in architecture design with arts and structural design as my minor.

My intuition and I were endowed with artistic talent at a young age. I like to bring to society a better living environment and feeling.

My firm concentrates on architectural, interior, and landscaping design. As Hakka Taiwanese, we really invested much of our time and efforts in revitalizing historic Hakka Fo Fong (clan-living quarters), and many historic Hakka buildings in which we are very well qualified and experienced.

At the moment we are designing libraries for remote area Hakka towns, emphasizing strongly on children’s department to help the disadvantaged children of the remote Hakka towns. We are also designing a town hall complex and revamping a rundown tobacco collection station in Hakka town into a senior center, as the need for senior care has risen dramatically in this modern society.

Transforming ordinary to extraordinary, from mediocrity to outstanding.

Using the most simplistic and naturalistic material, designing the most harmonious, eco-friendly creation that is still beneficial to mankind.

It must be environmentally friendly, and passionately love for life.

I am an authentic, bonafide Hakka (Hakkanese). The Wanluan (Van Mang in Hakka) library site is located in Van Mang, Ling Dui region, a Southern Taiwanese Hakka militia, formed to protect all Hakka in the region. Van Mang’s location bordering the Aborigines and Southern Min, is named the Pioneer Regiment. Van Mang being so diversified, the library would be used by different groups of people too.

As a native, I was born and raised about less than ten kilometers from the library site, with an architect's point of view, I have to design a library to accommodate different cultural groups of people. So, the library’s exterior design reflects the native appearance.

The interior of the library is extremely handicapped-friendly, with even floor design. Although the library is small, the book collection capacity is maximized.

As a native Hakka, looking at the Mother Mountain Da Wu (Tai Vu San in Hakka pronunciation), the Hakka word, paper cherish furnace (that is another unique Hakka culture), and words from The Bible are all my inspiration for the project.

That is for sure. In my country of Taiwan, we have the freedom of expression and to learn and practice what we deem worthy, of course, that allows our imagination to run freely. My Hakka upbringing deeply affected my designs, allowing me to look at everything from multiple angles with the smarts of life in migration.

Thank you! It is an honor and affirms my hard work!

This project was my first library project. So it’s like my first baby. I have to make every effort to take care of her. It is also a very meaningful project. Growing up in this very rural area of Liug Dui Hakka area. We don’t have a decent library. The only library we had at home was situated on the second floor of a governmental building. We called it a haunted house.

Because someone actually committed suicide there. So we really don’t have a place to study or do research. When I got the project I was so excited and wanted to design a special place for my neighboring Hakka town, to provide a place for the children to study and learn.

This project is not only a place to grow one’s knowledge, but it is also a place for the townsfolk to meet and interact, a venue for arts and cultural performances. It’s just like a big family room for the whole town. It not only changes the quality of life in a rural area but also provides the possibility for cultural activities to be hosted here.

The main problems are no other than the extremely low budget for the project. The new building codes and the site are too small for what the government wanted. The whole government bureaucracy does not want to pay for it as well.

Builder’s insufficient knowledge of understanding the building drawings. Through many days and nights of educating the builder, etcetera. I am still not fully compensated for my work. Thankfully, winning this award has comforted me with this highest honor.

Winning the 2024 NY Architectural Design Awards gave me tremendous confidence in leading the projects in the future.

Creativities, honor, and the ability to save Mother Earth with our eco-friendly designs.

Full of enthusiasm and innovation, I chose to use green energy, that is, solar energy, water conservation and a fully circulated interior to save on air condoning. Planted native trees to Liug Dui. Bringing Hakka culture and innovation to the designs in the spirit of continuation of our Hakka culture and language.

Allowing the children of this Hakka village to enjoy this library for many generations to come. The design is to use composite materials that are reinforced concrete, wood, wherever suitable and steel structures throughout the project.

It is imperative to decrease global warming, all future designs must be more eco-friendly, and go green as much as we can.

Hard work and be persistent with your ideal.

Traveling to enrich your life and thoughts, go back to school to teach or take courses.

I never cared about awards, but receiving a prestigious award like this, really bettered my life and perspective.

The interaction of the Proverbs in the Bible with beautiful life in general. The creative works of Christians are like the Power to create like God.

Dedication and hard work.

I wish there would be an award presentation ceremony for the winners to physically experience the most romantic country in the world, France!