Page 54 - Hualien Sustainable Living Bilingual Magazine

After obtaining his Master’s degree in architecture in Vienna, Austria, Liu Jian-Sheng traveled to many countries in the East and West, and worked in the construction sector in China and Hong Kong. Later, he met his wife Michiko Kitamura in New Zealand. Michiko’s attitude of mending the natural world greatly influenced him, and she was the main driving force that inspired him to establish and promote the eco-village. During his work and studies, Liu learned of the Green School in Bali and was fascinated by the coexistence of people and nature as shown in photos. The local people choose to use indigenous materials such as bamboo, mud, and wood to build organic structures that blend perfectly with nature. Seeing the children happily walking on the dirt without a care in the world and experiencing an authentic life in nature, Liu realized that, “The eco-village encompasses many aspects such as the economy, community, and environment, and we sincerely want to learn from nature.”All of life’s challenges can be linked to global environmental issues, including climate change, water pollution, environmental conservation, and the wealth gap.“The Green School in Indonesia presented a natural approach to find a peaceful way to live with the natural environment, achieving self- sufficiency in industry, education, architecture, community building, and daily life.”He was moved by the“true sustainability”presented by one particular photo, where people were depicted living in a healthy, natural, and ideal manner. Michiko Kitamura, Liu’s wife, came from the Sunshine Clover Farm in Nagoya, Japan, and wanted to continue promoting and expand on the values of sustainable living in Taiwan. After traveling with her husband to Japan, China, and New Zealand, they finally decided to find a place in Taiwan to establish the Sun Clover Eco-Village together. “In that kind of living environment, we can get closer to the fundamental basics of life; learning farming, ecology, and respect for life.” Liu considered the possibility that architects can also play a role in connecting people with nature and building a sustainable life. 49