Every two years, a city is chosen as the World Design Capital by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design. This year, Taiwan has been selected to showcase its innovative neighborhoods and experiential spaces and a new app allows visitors to explore the design of Taipei, Taiwan's capital city.
The travel app showcases the city's creative spaces and highlights design elements around the city. Visitors have 250 stores, cafes, restaurants and cultural centers at their fingertips, and can discover firsthand why Taipei was named World Design Capital 2016.
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The app launches in conjunction with Creative Expo Taiwan and centers around the three neighborhoods surrounding the sites of the expo, including Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Huashan 1914 Creative Park and the Expo Dome. The app guides visitors through each neighborhood and offers several useful functions to help travelers design their own tours, providing news, maps, visitor information, events and a list of handpicked Fringe Shops, which are offering specials in conjunction with the event.
"This is the first time Taipei City has harnessed the power of modern technology to provide an immersive experience of the city's lifestyle design," said commissioner Pei-ni Beatrice Hsieh of the Department of Cultural Affairs (Taipei City). "We hope that travelers from near and far will be inspired, and leave with a deeper understanding of innovative Taipei design and Taiwanese culture."
These are some of the highlights featured in the app and as part of Creative Expo Taiwan.
Expo Dome
The Expo Dome sits among some of Taipei's most important galleries and museums. It is home to the Images of Art Display that is exhibiting significant pieces of art from Taiwan's National Palace Museum and the National Museum of History. Visitors are encouraged to visit the nearby Taipei Fine Arts Museum, showcasing contemporary museum architecture. MAJI Square is a vibrant market next to the Expo Dome where visitors will find vintage and contemporary fashion and accessories.
Design at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park
Songshan Cultural and Creative Park is home to the Taiwan Design Museum, holding exhibitions of local and international design year round. App users can use the map tool to explore the museum and the surrounding neighborhoods and discover homegrown design stores that blanket the area, including the minimalist furniture at Mountain Living, handmade shoes at O'Ringo and trendy fashion Taiwanese labels such as Just in Case, Groovy Store and A Room Model.
Huashan 1914 Creative Park
One of the most innovative neighborhoods is Huashan 1914 Creative Park, which came about as part of a successful regeneration, transforming an abandoned wine-making warehouse into today's park. The project has inspired an upwelling of creative projects and workshops in the area and visitors can wander through the neighborhood discovering some of its eclectic establishments. There is the iconic 24-hour Eslite Spectrum Bookstore, offering more than books within a cavernous interior. Visitors can rummage through a treasure trove of magazines, creative Taiwanese products, and vintage memorabilia at VVG Thinking and discover the contemporary art, fashion and lifestyle brands at Mano Select Shop.
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Those interested in exploring to Taipei's design side can download the app in iTunes or Google Play.
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