Yancheng First Public Retail Market lighting explores illumination as a way of evoking the collective memory of Taiwanese people. By visiting the central market, one might discover the heart and soul of the city, learn about the residents’ food culture, eating habits, and overall lifestyle. The market represents a multigenerational stage where people gather to engage in conversation, get together, and enjoy the experience of purchasing food. People of all generations and statuses visit the market on a regular basis, making it a part of their everyday routine. Every central market has a way of invigorating either the place or the cultural ecosystem that forms around it. And Yancheng First Public Retail Market is no different.
Upcycling the exsisting materials
Located in a post-WWII landmark, the market has welcomed the locals and tourists for over seven decades. The light design requested a refurbishment of the space, as Japanese timber trusses were long covered by collapsed concrete roofs. Together with a group of architects, WEDO Lighting turned the damaged wood into sculptural lighting fixtures, while the beans were transformed into their carriers. The decision to keep historic materials and upcycle timber from dismantled roof beams reduced waste. The company used custom wall washers to illuminate the façade and to seclude chaotic wiring. The linear fluorescents were also reimagined by giving a new interpretation to the familiar elements. Path illumination softly guides the visitors and enables spatial clarity.
Eat by day, dance by night
The market provides customers with an opportunity to try traditional food throughout the day, while at night the space transforms into a nightclub. In order to create the most suitable lighting, WEDO talked to long-term vendors and new shop owners. As a result of this dialogue, a new environment was created that transforms from sunrise to night, creating a balance between tradition and contemporary design. Economically, the refurbished site has attracted more people, boosting the local economy and improving long-term community resilience. The working conditions were improved by fulfilling the needs of the local sellers.
Reducing the energy load of the structure
During the day, natural light filters through timber trusses, while artificial light enhances comfort, well-being, and ambience. Energy-efficient LEDs feature adaptive brightness technology, thus scaling energy consumption from day to night. The overall energy load of the building is reduced through enhanced daylight access and natural ventilation. More than a simple lighting design, the illumination of Yancheng First Public Retail Market sparks a social conversation that connects past to present, people to place, and community and tradition.
WEDO Lighting
WEDO lighting is a company known for its social responsibility and commitment to circular living. The studio based in Taipei City frequently transforms discarded objects into ingenious luminaires. In an attempt to balance nature, culture, and experiences, WEDO designs bring harmony to people and their environment. With strong roots in theatre arts, the company integrates local identity, storytelling, and social and environmental responsibility to add a contemporary spirit to local traditions. WEDO Lighting’s Yancheng First Public Retail Market design received LIT Lighting design Award in Community Building Lighting category.
Photo Credits: LIN KO-CHENG, Hao Architects, Atelier Let’s
