S2E56: The one design feature that makes Taiwan ‘ugly’

Jan 1, 2026

16:26

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Metal window grilles were meant to keep households safe from burglars but they have been fingered as eyesores.

Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in.

One of Taiwan’s names is "Formosa" - given by Portuguese sailors who sighted the island in the 16th century and called it “Beautiful Island” given its natural wonders such as mountains, forests and hot springs.

In more recent times though, Taiwanese officials and designers have complained about a man-made blight across its cities: ubiquitous, often rusty, metal grilles criss-crossing windows.

They surface a larger discussion about the pace of urban renewal in Taiwan - a challenge that many Asian cities face, given the competing imperatives between urban renewal, heritage conservation and the rights of homeowners.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:00 The ugly truth about Taipei's buildings

2:06 Taiwan's window bars mystery

4:53 The beauty behind the rust

7:42 Challenges in urban redevelopment

12:12 Cycling and pedestrian safety in Taiwan

Read Yip Wai Yee’s article here: https://str.sg/7U6y

Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR

Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x

Host: Li Xueying (xueying@sph.com.sg)

Edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

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