The Red House — Attraction in Taipei

The Red House and surround should be the first place you visit in Taipei, and also the last.

Here are three reasons to make the Red House theater square your go-to meet up spot when visiting Taipei:

It's cultural and historic significance. It's convenience as a meet up spot. It's social vibe appeal.

Did you know that the Red House Theater has contributed broadly to the urban renewal efforts of Taipei in the last few decades?

The Red House Theater was once a public market, first built in 1908 and eventually abandoned. The historic landmark was later restored by the Taipei government and made a cultural icon. The Red House Theater has had a positive effect, helping revitalize the Ximending area and, transforming it into a vibrant cultural and commercial hub.

The Red Theater square has a quaint, relaxed vibe, with a hint of Bali. These days it is a multifunctional space that hosts performances, exhibitions, outdoor markets and also boutique shops.

Its restoration has attracted, and continues to attract diverse visitors, enhancing the local cultural landscape.

It has also benefitted the local economy in one of the oldest areas of the city after Danshui.

P.S: The Red House Theater Square is recognized as a Grade 3 Historic Site.

Tip: Make this the place you meet up with friends the evening you arrive, and also when you leave Taipei.

It's easy to create a fluid, open ended meeting time-frame, in a spot where people can mingle freely, enjoy all you can drink open air bars, stroll the local nightmarket and visit the famous Ximending walking street, also known as Taipei's "Little Harajuku".

Whether you want to bounce to a rooftop bar or club from there, enjoy a traditional teahouse, a KTV or beat it back to the airport, the city is your oyster.

Don't forget to check out Taipei Mag for more info and insider...

The Red House, a Western-style red-brick octagonal structure in Taipei's Ximen space built in 1908, is Taiwan's first public market and the most well preserved historic site. Designed by Kondo Juro, a western-styled architect in the prefectural civil engineering office at the time, the market entrance, incorporating both octagonal and cruciform shapes, was paralleled by no other in the east and west. The market entrance also took on the "eight trigrams (bagua)" design considered boldly creative then. Octagon Building, Cruciform Building, and the adjacent South-North Square are now collectively known as the Red House.

In November, 2007, Department of Cultural Affairs commissioned Taipei Culture Foundation to manage The Red House. It underwent a series of cultural transformation including: at Octagon Building 2F Theater, Central Display Area, The Red House Tea Shop, The Red House Select Shop, at Cruciform Building 16 Workshops, Cultural Arts Exhibition Platform, Riverside Live House, Market for Artists & Designers located by North Square and Outdoor Café located by South Square. These changes provided better services to the general public, created a space of creativity, attracted crowds, and expanded the domain of overlapping cultural arts. The Red House has successfully transformed into a new cultural & creative industries development center in Taipei City. In 2008, it was awarded The 7th Urban Landscape Award in Historical Space Redevelopment Category.

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Iconic The Red House was completed in 1908. Knownas Shinkigai Market at the time, it was a marketplace where Japanese people traded and sold goods. High quality merchandise, cosmetics, and leisure and entertainment products were available for purchase on the ground floor of the Octagon Hall. The second floor featured Taiwanese and Japanese products, as well as cakes and coffee shops, and was later ex[anded to include a tea tastinbg room and a dining room where shoppers could eat and relax. In the rear, the Cruciform Building sold a wide variety of fresh fruit and vetables. The market became a shoppers mecca, offering a complete section of that era's newest and most innovative products.

The Taipei Culture Foundation took over management of the Red House in 2007. Dedicated to create an iconic tourist attraction on the city's west side, the foundation set up Creative Boutique, a cultural and creative space, inviting local design brands to move in . As a result, Red House now serves as a platform for Taiwan's cultural and creative industry workers. The site also includes a creative market and plans themed activities to coincide with Taiwanese holidays and festivals, further enriching people's lives.

The Red House focuses on art and cultural performances, its strives to fully use its space and main a rich cultural atmosphere, allowing visitors to experience the charm of the Red House's centuries old culture.

Transport MRT by 1 minute walking distance after the Bannan Line(blue) MRT-Ximen...