Institute of Urban Space

Warm regeneration of a wasteland


In the hearts of many post-80s, the favorite is not the bloody comics like Marvel, but the warm and dreamy Jimmy comics: it is obviously a soft and cute fairy tale, but a group of adults cry. Jimmy's real name is Liao Fubin, and his English name is Jimmy. Because he likes to write the Chinese character "ji", he is also called "jimi". He is from Yilan, Taiwan. At the end of 1993, he was still working in an advertising company, but that year he encountered a "middle-aged crisis" at work.

cartoonist Jimmy


In the spring of the following year, at the age of 35, he began to draw illustrations full-time at home, which also became a turning point in his life. During that time, he had to draw almost every day, drawing all kinds of "villains".


Until 1998, he published "Secrets in the Forest" and "Smiling Fish", and later released the critically acclaimed "Go Left · Go Right", "The Moon Forgot", "Subway"...


In the 2011 cartoonist rich list, he ranked second with 25 million royalties. "Subway", "Go Left, Go Right" and "Starry Sky" have also been adapted into film and television works.

Jimmy Comics has become a cultural IP, cooperating with various products and gaining commercial recognition, but he has made a decision to devote himself to the construction of his hometown regardless of rewards...

Yilan Xingfu Station


The "Jimmy Theme Plaza" is located only 200 meters away from the Yilan Railway Station in Taiwan. This is the "Lancheng Star" project promoted by the Yilan County Government. Through urban renewal, the old dormitory area of ​​the Railway Bureau on the south side of the Yilan Railway Station, Set up as a National Highway Passenger Transit Center, planning a public art area of ​​100 square meters, created by Jimmy and his team.


▽ Yilan Xingfu Transit Station is about a 5-minute walk from Yilan Railway Station. It is the starting point for traveling from south to north.

The predecessor of the building is the old Taiwan Automobile Station with a history of 30 years. Because of the relocation, the building was vacant, leaving an empty parking lot.


At first, the project was led by Taiwanese architect Shengyuan Huang, who transformed the dilapidated station into a clean and bright place.

This kind of transformation is the most basic. Jimi's team re-implanted scene-based content here through painting, collage and art installations.

Outdoors, it creates a wetland park-like artistic conception, and the colorful hand-painting is also very atmospheric.

Use abandoned buses to make interesting animal play equipment.

Indoors, a large part is the themed exhibition of Jimmy's cartoons.

The big black dog is made into a giant doll to accommodate children of different ages.

There is also the first virtual reality pavilion in Yilan, allowing visitors to experience VR.

At the Happiness Transfer Station, the finished products and labor results of disadvantaged children are converted into exhibits and commodities, which on the one hand builds their self-confidence, and on the other hand enables the public to have a deeper understanding of disadvantaged children.

Here is like a world of forgetfulness, attracting children and older children to understand the social significance of the happiness transfer station "Don't Worry. Be Happy!".

The Healing Jimmy Square


Next to the Happiness Transfer Station is the first Jimmy-themed square in Taiwan. The old dormitory area of ​​the Railway Bureau was used as the renovation object. Part of the residence was partially preserved, and each room was equipped with themed installation sculptures.


In order to support his hometown, the Jimmy design team won the renovation with a budget of only 3 million Taiwan dollars, and did not charge a cent of royalties.


▽The renovation plan includes high-reduction true-to-scale sculptures, leisure facilities, exhibition spaces and green landscapes.

The Tutu Bus Station in "Starry Sky": The carefully designed scene makes people feel like they have stepped into a comic

Jimmy Square uses art installations to select images from "Starry Sky", "Subway" and "Go Left, Go Right" to freeze the "fragmentary scenery of life".


▽"Go Left, Go Right" scene


▽The sky bus in "Starry Sky"


▽ There are many low-cost methods in the transformation: the old house is converted into a gallery, and the historical elements are preserved.

Low-cost design: The lines in the picture book are made into slogans, which are simple but moving enough.


Low-cost design: There is also a fitness activity area in the venue, which is rich in functions.

Only one year after the opening of Jimmy Square, it attracted more than 1 million people, and the whole Taiwan only had 20 million people.

A well-crafted cultural and creative park


More and more people come here for these fairy-tale buildings, which also makes this area full of vitality.


▽ The earliest transformation started around 2002, and the "slow work" for more than ten years has made the current fairy tale world.


Now, even the Yilan Railway Station has the color of "Jimmy".

In front of Yilan Railway Station is the "Forest Station" completed by Jimmy and Huang Shengyuan's construction team - a Diu Diu Dang forest of nine 14-meter steel trees.

Diu Diu Dang is the sound of the train carriage colliding with the rails and water droplets when the train passes through the cave...

Looking at the "Du Diu Dang Forest" from a distance, the tall green steel frame looks like a big tree, and the roof of the station is also in line with Yilan's rainy and hot summer climate.


Under the semi-outdoor space, various activities are accommodated. From a distance, the forest station looks like an oasis in the town.

▽ The design of the entrance is also quite individual, scattered on the square like children's building blocks.

Those who come into this world can be happy without spending much.


Yilan without Disney can still impress us.


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