MVRDV, a Dutch-based architecture firm, recently won a competition to transform a section of downtown Tainan, Taiwan’s former capital for more than 200 years, roughly 200 miles from the current capital, Taipei. By re-creating a lagoon and a leafy public corridor amongst one of the city's busiest areas along Haian Road and by building bridges above a meandering waterway, the park project is an ode to the natural lagoons that served as the base of Tainan’s marine and fishing industry up until the early 20th century.

More than merely paying homage to the region's past, the new site will provide amenities, including playgrounds flanked by small commercial unit, a tourism information point, a teahouse, and an art gallery. Construction is slated to begin at the end of 2016, as crews begin demolishing the former China-Town Mall and transform the site into the public park. No announcement has been made on when the project will be completed.