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Abstract

This paper discusses the gradual transformation of the Alishan Forestry Industry Architecture Complex in Chiayi City, Taiwan, which began to take shape after 1906 and has evolved into exhibition halls, museums, and cultural creative parks after being designated as historic monuments and heritage buildings. Employing Foucault’s concept of “heterogeneous spaces,” the analysis culminates in recommendations for heritage conservation in Taiwan. Through an analysis of the reuse and preservation methods of the Chiayi Forestry Club, the Beimen Station Hokumon, the government-owned dormitories of the Chiayi Forest District Office, the wooden structure buildings within the administrative area of the Chiayi Forest District Office, and the Sawmill of the Chiayi Forest Office, it is revealed that these initiatives are closely linked to the local community identity in Chiayi City. Furthermore, they are associated with Chiayi City’s cultural preservation policies and contemporary heritage conservation politics. These efforts not only represent the nation’s history and local history but also serve as a marketing strategy for historical imagery, while also demonstrating the potential of space to facilitate social transformation.