In many cities, iconic architectural landmarks often remain untouched, frozen in time.
However, some undergo transformations, shedding their old identities to embrace new purposes and symbolism. Such is the story of Taipei's Red House. 
Nestled in the heart of the Ximending neighborhood within Taipei's Wanhua district, the Red House is a two-story octagonal building with red tiles and bricks.
Designed by Japanese architect Kondo Juro, it was completed in 1908 and served as Taiwan's first government-built public market (the original doorpost from the market can still be admire nearby).
Originally known as the Shinkigai Market, the ground floor featured an octagonal hall where Japanese merchants traded cosmetics, leisure products, and more (the area where it is located, Ximending, was the reserved migrating areas for Japanese people).
The Cruciform Building at the rear housed an array of fresh fruits and vegetables, while the upper floor was a hub for Taiwanese and Japanese products, along with cake and coffee shops. Over time, it expanded to include a tea room and dining area, attracting visitors in search of novel and innovative products.
In 1945, the Red House underwent a transformation as Taiwan's nationalist government renamed it the Red House Theater. It became a venue for popular entertainment, hosting Peking and Yue (Shaoxing) opera, as well as comedic performances.
However, with the rise of nearby movie theaters, it was repurposed as The Red House Cinema in the 1960s. While it was a popular attraction screening black-and-white martial arts and Western films, it eventually faded into obscurity.
In the year 2000, a fire damaged the Cruciform Building; fortunately, the structure was renovated and reopened. In 2007, the building was reinvented as a tourist attraction, featuring a friendly space with a handicraft market, boutiques, and stalls showcasing local design brands, promoting Taiwanese businesses from the cultural and creative industries.
This shift aimed to restore the building's original purpose while taking it a step further: the Red House now boasts a performance space and, outside, the North and South Squares serve as additional performing spaces and market stalls. In 2008 the Red House received recognition with the "Best Historical Site Revitalization" project award.
The building gained renewed popularity when South Square started hosting outdoor gay bars, eventually becoming the largest outdoor gay bar area in Asia.
In 2018, the Octagon building reopened and currently features displays highlighting the diversity and inclusivity of Taiwanese society, emphasizing LGBTQ+ rights, milestones, and same-sex marriages.
May 2019 marked indeed a historic moment when Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage; in May 2023, the Legislative Yuan, the national government's legislative assembly, also granted same-sex couples the right to jointly adopt a child neither are related to, further solidifying Taiwan's commitment to equality.
Today, the Red House is a prominent fixture in Taipei's annual Pride parade (taking place tomorrow), which closes Taiwan's Pride Month (October). First held in 2003, this parade has become East Asia's largest annual Pride celebration.
The Rainbow Six, located at exit No. 6 of Ximen MRT Station will also be another landmark location of the Pride parade, like 228 Peace Memorial Park (formerly called Taipei New Park). The latter is a historical gay spot that was also the setting for the renowned Taiwanese gay novel (the first in Chinese) Crystal Boys (Niezi, literally "Sinners", 1983; first published in English in 1990) by Pai Hsien-yung.
If you're planning to visit Taipei, read the novel and then visit these locations, reflecting on the journey of progress from the young men in Taiwan's homosexual community, who referred to themselves as "Niezi" or as "glass/crystal boys" (terms used as metaphors for their invisibility), to the transformative shift in modern history with the LGBTQ+ community emerging from the shadows to be openly celebrated also through architectural landmarks.
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