Chill Out at the Port of Kaohsiung's Warehouses
Chill Out at the Port of Kaohsiung's Warehouses
◎Written by Wang Ting-yun
◎English translation by Lin Yu-ciao
◎Photos by Zeng Sin-yao
Visitors can reach Kaohsiung Port Depot 410 and Kaohsiung Port Warehouse No.2 (KW2) by crossing the Great Harbor Bridge. This spectacular white bridge is both a stunning sight in itself, and a point where sightseers can pause and take in superb views of Kaohsiung's harbor.
Shen Miao-zih, chairperson of Kaohsiung Port Land Development Co. Ltd., is in charge of converting the port's former warehouses into leisure complexes and recreational attractions. The project will include a wharf hotel area and large-scale commercial facilities. In addition to Kaohsiung Port Depot 410, which began operations this January, she intends to transform these time-honored buildings into the world's largest revitalized port warehouse complex.
Shen's renovation concept is centered on historical preservation, such as retaining the ancient warehouses' beam-and-column structures. Timeworn safety signs, such as “No Fireworks,” can still be seen around the site, as well as artifacts like sizable anchors used in port transshipment.
According to Shen, attracting and facilitating investment has not been easy. Initially, businesses were reluctant to invest in facilities within the former warehouses due to the ongoing pandemic. She then took the initiative to invite them to appreciate the Port of Kaohsiung's spectacular scenery in person. Drawn by the charming waterfront view, businesses started to consider the site as a possible base, and Shen's goals were eventually achieved.
Shen has added texture to the revitalization of the port warehouses by drawing on the aesthetic experience she gained by expanding shopping malls in recent years. She points out that the most special thing about the former warehouses is that they are publicly owned and accessible to anyone. In recent years, the Port of Kaohsiung has undergone a metamorphosis, and emerged as a tourist attraction that draws visitors to the metropolis.
Touring Kaohsiung Port Depot 410
Kaohsiung Port Depot 410 comprises four repurposed warehouses, each with its own style. Warehouse 7 is for ladies' fashion; Warehouse 8 is for gatherings and dining; Warehouse 9 focuses on sports and fashion; while Warehouse 10 houses a special exhibition of photographs of Kaohsiung's harbor. Visitors can experience the historical textures of the port through these vintage images. Public art in the form of a bronze bell, set up in the square behind the warehouse, has become a popular spot for taking photos.
Kaohsiung Port Depot 410 is both a depiction of the lifestyle of the metropolitan city, and a place where visitors can experience a leisurely and laid-back atmosphere while immersed in breathtaking and expansive waterfront scenery. Everyone is welcome to tour the Port of Kaohsiung's former warehouses and learn more about the city's story.
最chill的高雄港灣倉庫群
◎文／王亭云
穿越大港橋，抵達高雄港棧庫群的「大港倉410」，在這裡可從窗邊透看白色的大港橋，港灣風情吸引遊客駐足。
高雄港區土地開發公司董事長沈妙姿肩負改造昔日高雄港倉庫群轉型為休閒遊憩景點的任務，除了今（2022）年1月已營運的「大港倉410」外，後續還包括碼頭旅店區、大型商業複合設施等，沈妙姿盼能將它們打造成世界最大的活化棧庫群！
她以尊重歷史為改造理念，如保存舊倉庫的梁柱結構，在斑駁梁柱上還可見到當年「嚴禁煙火」的歷史字樣，也保存港口轉運時所用的大錨等老物件。
沈妙姿談起，招商過程不無挑戰，受疫情之累，邀請業者進駐時，業者多了幾分猶豫，她便主動邀請廠商親自前來感受高雄港灣的迷人景致。業者因此對港灣風情動心，興起了在大港倉分享自家品牌願景的想法，最後順利達成招商。
沈妙姿汲取過去做商場展店的美學經驗，為高港棧庫群活化注入更多質感。她指出碼頭倉庫群最特別的是，它是公有的、眾人的，敞開手臂迎接千客萬來，如今高雄港將以觀光服務，為港都再帶來人潮。
賞遊「大港倉410 」
「大港倉410」4座倉庫各有風格，倉7庫走的是女性時裝品牌；倉8庫可聚會享用美食餐飲；倉9庫主打運動時尚；倉10庫則展示高雄築港影像特展，每張老照片都可讓遊客領略高雄港歷史紋理，倉庫後方廣場設置的音樂銅鐘公共藝術，是不可錯過的熱門拍照景點。
大港倉展現高雄港都的生活風格，讓置身其中的旅人感受倉庫與港灣的閒適，歡迎您前來賞遊高雄港倉庫群，看見高雄的故事。
閱讀中文版：
翻轉高雄港印象 大港倉的轉型故事
https://takao.kcg.gov.tw/article/743
大港倉410新亮相 戀上高雄港灣九種美
https://takao.kcg.gov.tw/article/744