Taipei City Booth

Translating Taipei’s architectural history into a contemporary trade-show environment balancing cultural storytelling, tourism promotion, and seven commercial brands.

The Challenge

The project started as a bid to design a high-visibility tourism booth representing Taipei while giving various participating brands equal commercial exposure, all within a limited budget and a reusable modular construction system.

The Winning Concept

Research into Taipei’s architectural heritage led me to Bopiliao, a historic district characterized by dual-sided storefronts and layers of preservation and adaptation. I translated this into a walk-through booth with two identities: historic Taipei on one side and the contemporary city on the other.

The seven participating brands were integrated into this streetscape, allowing visitors to discover products while experiencing a condensed journey through Taipei.

Design Development 

The booth translates Taipei’s historic and contemporary identities into two overlapping architectural layers. Rather than separating them, the open structures allow visitors to walk between and through both, creating shifting views where old and new Taipei are always visible together, reflecting how they coexist throughout the city.

Contemporary TaipeiInspired by Taipei’s iconic skyline and urban identity, including Taipei 101 and its celebrated New Year’s fireworks.

Historic Taipei
Drawing from the city’s layered traditional architecture, preserved neighborhoods, and cultural destinations.

Evolution from Client Input

Through client revisions, the programming and visual details evolved while the original architectural concept and visitor journey remained intact.

Built Result + Impact

Project Takeaway

Cultural storytelling doesn’t need to compete with commercial objectives, it enhances the experience instead. By making the vendors part of the spatial narrative rather than separate displays, the booth could function simultaneously as exhibition, destination marketing and retail environment.