Interview with the Team of Environmental Protection Bureau, Yunlin County

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The Team of Environmental Protection Bureau, Yunlin County

Environmental Protection Bureau of Yunlin County is currently led by Director Ciao-Wei Chang, Deputy Director Fu-Yi Huang, Secretary Shu-Yuan Shen, and five business units (Comprehensive Planning Section, Air and Noise Management Section, Water Quality Protection Section, Environmental Health Section, Waste Management Section), four staff units (Administration Section, Accounting Office, Ethics Office, Personnel Office), with total about 130 staff members. The job responsibilities include promoting environmental education, improving air quality, preventing water pollution, handling public environmental complaints, toxic substances, waste disposal, etc.

Interview With The 2023 MUSE Design Awards Winner – The Team of Environmental Protection Bureau, Yunlin County

1Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your design background.

This project is an initiative led by the Environmental Protection Bureau of Yunlin County and executed under the design and supervision of Pancheng Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd. (referred to as PCEC), serves as a sustainable park. This project is a multifaceted endeavor aimed at enhancing air quality, environmental cleanliness, and cultural enrichment along the Zhuoshui River, combining elements of landscaping design, ecological improvement, and cultural development.

The park links the tourism routes of Xiluo Town and the Zhuoshui River upstream and downstream, providing local recreational spaces, and creating Yunlin County as a city that coexists with ecology and environment.

The designing and supervision unit, PCEC, is a professional engineering consultants company, focused on various fields, such as environmental and hydraulic engineering, ecology, landscape planning, supervision, and project management. PCEC is also committed to environmental impact assessment, environmental monitoring, and carbon reduction, aiming to be an all-rounded consulting company.

2Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.

Environmental Protection Bureau of Yunlin County is currently led by Director Ciao-Wei Chang, Deputy Director Fu-Ui Huang, Secretary Shu-Yuan Shen, and five business units (Comprehensive Planning Section, Air and Noise Management Section, Water Quality Protection Section, Environmental Health Section, Waste Management Section), four staff units (Administration Section, Accounting Office, Ethics Office, Personnel Office), with a total of 130 staff members.

The job responsibilities encompass a range of critical tasks, including environmental education promotion, air quality enhancement, water pollution prevention, addressing public environmental grievances, managing toxic substances, and waste disposal. Key environmental concerns in Yunlin County comprise waste management, PM2.5 reduction, Mailiao Refinery oversight, river pollution prevention, and reducing dust emissions from the Zhuoshui River basin. Among these priorities, achieving autonomous waste disposal and sustainability involves the exploration of diverse treatment methods.

These issues are of public concern and face multifaceted challenges, despite the Environmental Protection Bureau's dedicated efforts. With the commitment of our team members, we aspire to transform Yunlin County into an eco-friendly city with a pristine environment.

3Describe your design style and its main characteristics.
The design is based on a simple, natural, and bright style that combines local historical and cultural characteristics with the coexistence with nature. It aims to create a recreational space that incorporates local features, ecology, sustainable resources, and environmental protection with wide horizons and multi-layered planting techniques to shape the landscape.
4Tell us about your design process.

The impact of climate change has escalated into a pressing global concern, with many nations committing to the ambitious target of achieving "net-zero emissions by 2050." President Ing-Wen Tsai emphasized that this goal is not just a global endeavor but is integral to my country’s aspirations as well.

In line with these commitments, the Yunlin County government has designated 2023 as a pivotal "carbon reduction year." An exemplar of this effort is the initiative undertaken by the Yunlin County Environmental Protection Bureau, which successfully transformed the previously neglected area adjacent to the old Xiluo Bridge embankment into a distinctive local attraction.

Initially, various proposals were considered for the park's use, including a skateboard park, an ecological park, and a martial arts facility, among others. After extensive consultations with local residents and experts, taking into account the community's specific needs and harmonizing with the surrounding environment, the decision was made to create a versatile park that combines ecological features with spaces for martial arts activities.

5Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?

My country has placed a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability, enacting policies for achieving net-zero emissions through four key transformations in the energy, industrial, lifestyle, and social sectors. These transformations are supported by the essential foundations of "technology development" and "climate-related legislation," all facilitated by a comprehensive framework of "twelve critical strategies." The goal of net-zero emissions is to be realized through the implementation of these policies and strategies.

The "Lifestyle transformation" calls for comprehensive changes across various aspects of daily life, encompassing elements like diet, clothing, housing, and transportation. A transition to low-carbon practices is imperative, particularly in public infrastructure and transportation.

This project exemplifies one facet of this "Lifestyle transformation." By establishing the park, the public is guided toward embracing low-carbon spaces. Moreover, Yunlin County boasts rich traditional cultural attributes, and it is vital to harmonize local environmental and cultural elements for the enhancement of tourism and overall development. The integration of these local factors into the park's design not only provides insights into the region's culture through its environment but also fosters a cohesive visual experience throughout the space.

6Congratulations! As the winner of the 2023 MUSE Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
This project is a representative landscape park project by Environmental Protection Bureau of Yunlin County and PCEC. It combines culture, environment, and ecology – it is an application of diversification of land. Winning this award is an honor and a wondrous milestone for us and it gives us the motivation to continue our efforts in environmental improvement and landscape engineering in the future. We are very grateful for the recognition!
7Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2023 MUSE Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?

The concept of this project is to continue the historical significance of the Zhuoshui River. It preserves the old embankment and reorganizes the old water landscape. In terms of ecology, the combination of large grass areas, plantings that attract butterflies and birds, and the ecological pool with the existed trees to create the diverse ecological habitat. In terms of resource sustainability, the rain garden with underground infiltration pipes can collect and reuse the rainwater. Solar-powered lighting is used for energy conservation and carbon reduction.

Also, the permeable nutrient supply pipes are buried next to the trees for the reuse of food waste, which can provide the agricultural experiences and education. In terms of culture, it incorporates the local Xiluo martial arts features, setting entrance door, the forest martial arts areas, and the plaza. In terms of environmental protection, the environmentally friendly materials are chosen to build the wooden house, bicycle sheds.

Additionally, the installation arts are made from waste, which imbues the waste with the meaning of rebirth. The trail with Zhuoshui River features also provides the public with a great activity space.

8What was the biggest challenge with this project?

In the initial phase of the project, we faced the demands from various agencies, each with their own development goals. It resulted in the theme positioning and frequent design modifications.

Furthermore, this location was overseen by multiple government agencies, resulting in intricate land division and posing difficulties in obtaining land usage approvals and conducting legal reviews. After a series of meetings and design adjustments, it ultimately transformed into a welcoming and accessible public space.

9Who has inspired you in your life and why?
Design can be inspired by various aspects of life, including food, clothing, housing, transportation, and emotions. To fully unleash your creativity, it's necessary to engage all your five senses and experience these sources of inspiration first-hand. This enables you to create designs that truly cater to the needs of humanity.

Winning Entry

Taiwan Yunlin Xiluo Kung Fu Ecology Park | 2023

Taiwan Yunlin Xiluo Kung Fu Ecology Park | MUSE Design Awards

The site’s location is situated in Xiluo Township, a district located in the Yunlin County. It is in close proximity …
(Read more at MUSE Design Awards)


Team of Environmental Protection Bureau, Yunlin County

Environmental Protection Bureau of Yunlin County is currently led by Director Ciao-Wei Chang, Deputy Director Fu-Yi Huang, Secretary Shu-Yuan Shen, and five business units (Comprehensive Planning Section, Air and Noise Management Section, Water Quality Protection Section, Environmental Health Section, Waste Management Section), four staff units (Administration Section, Accounting Office, Ethics Office, Personnel Office), with total about 130 staff members. The job responsibilities include promoting environmental education, improving air quality, preventing water pollution, handling public environmental complaints, toxic substances, waste disposal, etc.


Read more about this interview with Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo from Portugal, the Gold Winners of the 2023 MUSE Design Awards.

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