Red House: A Time Tunnel to Taipei's Luminous Legacy

Chih Liang Liu and Sing Lee's Award-Winning Urban Time Capsule

The Lantern Festival in Taiwan marks a period of vibrant celebration, where tradition meets contemporary festivity. Chih Liang Liu and Sing Lee have transformed this occasion into a visual spectacle, merging the historical significance of Taipei with the dynamic energy of modern-day festivities. Their Red House installation, a beacon of urban memory, captures the essence of the city's evolution through a series of graphic installations that double as a city landmark and a canvas of illumination.

Distinctive in its approach, the Red House exhibition is more than a mere display; it's an immersive corridor of city memories. The designers have meticulously carved out the city's history in metal, creating a narrative that speaks to both residents and visitors alike. As one traverses the metallic tunnel, the city's past scenes, once lost to time, are vividly brought back to life, stirring nostalgia and wonder in equal measure.

Realization of this project involved advanced technology, with laser-cut metal sheets intricately designed to reflect the city's archives. The structural mechanics of architecture were employed to ensure stability, while the diffusion angles of LED lights were calculated for optimal illumination. The entire structure is coated with fluorocarbon baking paint, ensuring durability and ease of maintenance, allowing this art piece to stand the test of time.

Spanning an impressive 5400 mm x 16000 mm x 4500 mm, the Red House installation is a marvel of design and engineering. Comprising stainless steel, high-performance paints, computer-controlled LED lights, and an illumination transducer, the project is a harmonious blend of art and technology. The installation was a collaborative effort, with contributions from various entities including Golden Eagle International Lighting & Engineering Co., Ltd., the Department of Information and Tourism of Taipei City Government, and TSELIN Metal Co., Ltd., among others.

The Red House serves as an interactive platform, inviting visitors to engage with the city's history in a tangible way. It's a storytelling medium, an intangible heritage that passes on the legacy of Taipei's cultural identity to future generations. The project, which commenced in October 2023 and concluded in February 2024, was a highlight of the 2024 Taipei Lantern Festival, marking a significant milestone in the city's cultural calendar.

Chih Liang Liu and Sing Lee's Red House is not just an art installation; it's a cultural dialogue between the city's past and present. It stands as a shining example of how art and design can encapsulate the spirit of a city, earning it the Silver A' Design Award for its exceptional contribution to fine arts and art installation design. As the Red House continues to illuminate Taipei's streets, it remains a testament to the city's enduring allure and the transformative power of design.