IN-PERSON Manchester Livable Cities
Abstract
In Taiwan, the regeneration of existing buildings and the development of mixed-use programs have become increasingly important in response to ageing building stock, changing urban needs, and broader discussions of public value in the built environment. Yet in publicness-oriented regeneration projects, key questions of openness, access, everyday use, and operational control are often negotiated early without a sufficiently structured discussion of how different users may experience the space. This creates tensions between activation and inclusion, as well as between publicness and long-term management. This study examines how an early-stage, user-centered design perspective can support publicness-oriented mixed-use building regeneration in Taiwan. It argues that the livability of regenerated buildings is shaped not only by physical design outcomes, but also by how user groups, access conditions, use scenarios, and governance assumptions are framed in the early stages of decision-making. The study combines literature on building regeneration, publicness, and user experience with case analysis and interviews to identify recurring early-stage considerations in such projects. It further uses a workshop based on Huanan New Village to test a simplified checklist and discussion process with participants from architecture-related backgrounds. By repositioning user experience as an early-stage lens for discussing publicness, mixed-use balance, and everyday use, the study aims to offer a practical reference framework for more inclusive and livable regeneration processes in Taiwan.
Shu-Fan Hsiao is a Master’s student at the Graduate Institute of Creative Industries Design, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. His research focuses on publicness-oriented building regeneration and early-stage, user-centered design processes in mixed-use development. He is particularly interested in how user experience perspectives can support decision-making in regeneration projects, especially in relation to access, governance, and everyday use. His broader interests include service design, participatory design, and urban transformation.
Dr. Chia-Han Yang is Professor and Chairperson of the Graduate Institute of Creative Industries Design at National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. He received his PhD in Management of Technology from National Chiao Tung University, with prior training in mechanical engineering and technology management. His research focuses on industry analysis, intellectual property rights, service design, and technology and innovation management. His academic work has also engaged themes such as open innovation, innovation intermediaries, and service innovation. Through both research and teaching, he contributes to interdisciplinary dialogue on design, industry transformation, and innovation-driven development. 1.
Dr. Chung-Ching Huang is Assistant Professor at National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. His areas of expertise include user experience, human-computer interaction, and design philosophy. His research profile highlights work in interaction design, user experience research, user research, design fiction, and affective technology. Through his teaching and research, he explores how design can shape meaningful interactions between people, technology, and everyday life. His work bridges design inquiry and critical reflection, with an emphasis on interactive artifacts and experience-centered approaches to innovation and learning. 2
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Friday 19th June, 2026