Architecture isn't just about bricks and mortar; it's a living reflection of the times, echoing the values, dreams, and essence of an era. This sentiment is at the heart of an exhibition currently on at Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM).
Titled "Modern Life: Taiwan Architecture 1949-1983," the exhibition is curated by three scholars - Wu Kwang-Tyng, Wang Chun-Hsiung, and Wang Tseng-Yung. The event analyses the cultural transformation of Taiwan during these crucial decades, exploring how architecture mirrors and shapes society. The themes are brought to life through architectural drawings, audiovisual records, meticulously reproduced models and designer furniture.
After World War II, Taiwan faced a change of regime, with the Nationalist government relocating to Taiwan from Nanjing at the end of 1949, bringing different architectural techniques, concepts, and lifestyles, which influenced the Japanese colonial culture prevalent at the time.
The exhibition begins by setting the stage with the "Prelude" section, which features Deng Nan-Guang's evocative photograph "The End of an Era" and a model of the Chiang A-Hsin Mansion (1949), inheriting the eclectic Western, Japanese, and Taiwanese traditional styles from the Japanese colonial period, introducing viewers to the atmosphere of post-war multiculturalism.
From there, the exhibition unfolds through six themes - "Influence of US Aid," "Return to Chinese Retro," "Emergence of Chinese Modern," "Defining Regional Modernity," "Outliers," and "A New Life".
Each theme offers a unique perspective on Taiwan's architectural journey, from the pragmatic integration of American aid to the nostalgic revival of Chinese aesthetics and the innovative fusion of Eastern and Western design principles.
The "Influence of US Aid" section of the exhibition illustrates how American economic aid from 1951 to 1965 influenced Taiwan's architecture, introducing systematic construction methods and pre-stressed concrete materials.
Design drawings of significant buildings like the National Central Library of Taiwan and the Agricultural Exhibition Hall of National Taiwan University exemplify the rational use of reinforced concrete.
During the post-war era, the Nationalist government promoted the "Return to Chinese Retro" style, as seen in the architecture of Nanhai Academy in Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, reminiscent of Beijing's Temple of Heaven.
Architect Lu Yujun infused modern elements, inspired by Le Corbusier's concept of "architectural promenade" and incorporated a circular ramp design to provide users with a walking experience that enhanced their perception of space, light, and visual changes.
"Chinese Modern" emerged with Wang Da-Hong's residence in 1953, blending courtyard architecture with Western minimalism and local materials to infuse Eastern cultural spirit into modern design.
Works like the Art Center of Tunghai University, Ni Tsai-Chin's Tunghai University's Luce Memorial Chapel and a Bird's Eye View of Wenli Boulevard exemplify this fusion, showcasing Taiwan's architectural and artistic exploration during this period.
In the late 1950s, Taiwan experienced rapid economic growth, massive social changes, and significant urban population expansion. One standout section, "Local Modern," celebrates the rich tapestry of influences that shaped Taiwan's architectural identity.
Here visitors can admire the visionary works of Zhu Zelan, Taiwan's pioneering female architect, whose designs blended functionality with artistic flair.
Her design for the JingMei Girls High School library (1968) resembles blooming flowers and featured a circular skylight on the roof and stained glass creating a sort of sacred and comfortable reading environment for teachers and students.
Visitors to the exhibition can also sit on the benches designed by Hsiu Tes-Nan for the auditorium of Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School and watch a scene from the film "Lonely Seventeen" (1967) directed by Pai Ching-jui, which depicts the campus of JingMei Girls High School, experiencing the campus architecture under the influence of modernism.
Another notable campus architecture example is the Wave Building of San Sin High School of Commerce and Home Economics, completed in 1963 by architect Chen Ren-He. This unique structure boasts undulating, wave-like floors, where classrooms are arranged in pairs facing each other, with valleys serving as podiums and peaks as student seats.
This design not only showcases the architect's mastery of structural mechanics but also highlights the practicality of the layout. The intricate formulas and numbers on the architectural cross-section drawings on display here, further attest to the architect's exceptional structural calculation and design skills, especially considering the challenging circumstances of an era before the widespread use of computer-aided design and programming.
At the heart of the exhibition lies the Taipei Fine Arts Museum itself, a quintessential example of "local modern" architecture.
Architect Kao Er-Pan's bold design, characterized by its hash symbol structure and minimalist aesthetics, reflects Taiwan's aspirations for a brighter future. As visitors gaze out from the museum's tube-like structure onto the expanding park area below, they are invited to ponder the profound connections between architecture, nature, and human life.
This section also pays homage to the unsung heroes of Taiwan's architectural scene, such as Wang Hsiu-Lian, the first generation of local female architects, and artists Yen Shui-Long and Kuo Po-Chuan. Their contributions underscore the importance of nurturing Taiwan's architectural heritage and inspiring future generations of designers.
In the "Outliers" section, foreign architects' designs take center stage with the Chapel Building of St. Joseph Technical Senior High School by Swiss architect Justus Dahinden, celebrated among the top thirty modern buildings worldwide. Its innovative use of reinforced concrete slabs and a "plate structure" sans beams or columns epitomizes modern construction techniques.
This section also includes the Beitou Branch Temple of Hsing Tian Kong and the Linghsiao Shrine of Chih Nan Temple, blending Eastern and Western architectural traditions with modern materials, signaling a bold reinterpretation of modernity.
During the 1950s economic boom and urban explosion, public housing and private apartment investments surged.
The "New Life" section features the Zhongxing New Village model, the South Airport Apartments, and vintage photos of the Lincoln Building. These structures showcase the era's vertical living in high-rises, alongside modern amenities like indoor kitchens and bathrooms, reflecting a collective aspiration for a better modern lifestyle.
Large shopping malls also emerged, reshaping urban life. Among them, the Wannien Commercial Building (1973) stands out, etched in the memories of Taipei residents. Hosting various businesses, it emphasized spacious aisles, multiple elevators, and air conditioning, heralding a new era of urban consumption comfort and convenience.
In the words of TFAM Director Jun-Jieh Wang, "Modern Life: Taiwan Architecture 1949–1983" isn't just a retrospective; it's a call to action. By reimagining architecture as a lens through which to view Taiwan's past, present, and future, the exhibition sparks indeed conversations about the essence of modern life and its profound impact on society.
Last week a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan claiming the lives of at least 9 individuals and inflicting damage on nearly 800 structures (Taipei 101 remained unscathed thanks to its tuned mass damper, a mechanism designed to diminish structural vibrations and swaying by 40%). Following the earthquake, this exhibition turns into a journey through time, but also into an invitation to think about the future, pointing at the new architectural challenges that the country may face in future and sparking fresh dialogues about architectural resilience and innovation.
Image credits for this post
1. Installation view of Modern Life: Taiwan Architecture 1949-1983, 2024. Image © Taipei Fine Arts Museum; Chiang A-Hsin Mansion (1949), designed by Peng Yu-Li. Architectural model produced by Department of Architecture, Chung Yuan Christian University, 2024. Image © Taipei Fine Arts Museum.
2. Installation view of Modern Life: Taiwan Architecture 1949-1983, 2024. Image © Taipei Fine Arts Museum.
3. Deng Nan-Guang, The End of an Era, gelatin silver print. 47×31 cm, 1946, Collection of Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Image © Taipei Fine Arts Museum.
4. Main Library (1959, now Future Venue), National Cheng Kung University, designed by Wang Ji-Chang, Wu Mei-Xing, Chen Wan-Rong, and W. I. Freel. Image © Taipei Fine Arts Museum, 2023.
5. Former National Taiwan Science Center (1959, now National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute, Taipei Branch), designed by Lu Yu-Jun. Image © Ministry of Agriculture, 1961.
6. Wang Da-Hong Residence on Jianguo South Road (1953), designed by Wang Da-Hong. Wang Da-Hong (left) in front of his residence. Image © National Taiwan Museum.
7. Ni Tsai-Chin, Tunghai University’' Luce Memorial Chapel, oil on canvas. 52×64 cm, 2008–2009, Collection of Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Image © Taipei Fine Arts Museum.
8. Library, Taipei JingMei Girls High School (1968), designed by Hsiu Tes-Nan. Image © Taipei Fine Arts Museum, 2023.
9. A Bench of the Grand Hall, Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School, designed by Hsiu Tes-Nan, wooden and iron, 425×40×81 cm, 1972, Courtesy of Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School. Image © Taipei Fine Arts Museum.
10. Wave Building, San Sin High School of Commerce and Home Economics (1963), designed by Chen Ren-He. Image © Chang Wen-Jui, 2020.
11. Wave Building, San Sin High School of Commerce and Home Economics (1963), designed by Chen Ren-He. Architectural drawing, 1963 or before. Image © National Taiwan Museum.
12. Taipei Fine Arts Museum (1983), designed by Kao Er-Pan. Image © Taipei Fine Arts Museum, ca. 1983.
13. Chapel Building, St. Joseph Technical Senior High School (1960), designed by Justus Dahinden. Image © Taipei Fine Arts Museum, 2023.
14. Linghsiao Shrine of Chih Nan Temple (1966), Li Chung-Yueh. Image © Taipei Fine Arts Museum, 2023.
15. Wannien Commercial Building (1973), designed by Tsai Puo-Fuon and Chen Chao-Wu. Image © Taipei Fine Arts Museum, 2023.
16. Installation view of Modern Life: Taiwan Architecture 1949–1983, 2024. Image © Taipei Fine Arts Museum.
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