Daqi Creative Art Village Base

Located in Daqi Village (大崎里), Guantian District (官田區), Tainan City, the Daqi Creative Art Village Base launched a series of community-building initiatives aimed at transforming the village into a network of “islands of games.” By integrating natural resources and repurposing idle spaces, the project seeks to establish a creative learning environment rooted in the local landscape. The team is dedicated to community movements that emphasize participatory design and creative experiences.

Due to population aging and emigration, Daqi Village once had fewer than 500 residents. However, the village—located near Tainan National University of the Arts (TNNUA) and the Wushantou Reservoir (烏山頭水庫)—is rich in natural beauty and agricultural heritage. Since the TNNUA Graduate Institute of Architecture launched its Community-Building Program in 2004, students have been taking part in residency programs in Daqi, gradually opening up new avenues for community engagement and bringing change to the village.

Lin Jian-ruei and Lo Wan-tzu co-founded the Daqi Creative Art Village Base in 2017. The duo first arrived in the village as students at the TNNUA Graduate Institute of Architecture, following their professors and seniors across a single wall that separates the university from Daqi. Their participation in the village’s revitalization movement eventually inspired them to settle there. Passionate about rural development, Lin and Lo began restoring abandoned buildings and transforming them into creative playgrounds for children.

By reusing old structures, they have created an art library, a local produce store housed in a former rice mill, and a farmers’ market. They also host regular craft-making workshops that highlight village culture and provide immersive experiences through games and educational programs.

With a vision to strategically repurpose idle village spaces, Lin and Lo coined the term “islands of games” to describe their approach—revitalizing the village not merely by rebuilding, but by reimagining everyday spaces as playful environments.

Lin noted that he began building relationships with local residents during his student years. Because he and his peers bring valuable knowledge and skills into the village, many homeowners—who no longer reside in the village—are happy to lend their vacant houses for community use.

Unlike conventional architects, Lin and Lo initiate community-building projects by engaging in dialogue with landowners and property owners, and by connecting them with government departments. Their goal is to create a holistic, dynamic environment for learning and creativity. Describing themselves as “experience designers,” they promote Daqi Village’s natural and cultural assets by designing experiences and services, such as craft workshops, creative playgrounds, weekend activities, and seasonal camps.

In 2022, the co-director of the Daqi Creative Art Village Base Lin Jian-ruei was awarded the Community Empowerment Awards by the Ministry of Culture for his contribution to community building.

Ministry of Culture

Community Builders

Daqi Creative Art Village Base