Chimera Architecture Salon | Session 3 | Postwar Architectural Archives and Related Research

‍Event Content

Modern Life: Taiwan Architecture 1949-1983 explores the issues, events, and cultural factors that shaped the development of Taiwanese architecture from 1949 to 1983, revealing how Taiwan faced new transformations after World War II. From the KMT government’s relocation to Taiwan, through the period of American aid and the lifting of martial law, to the modern era, Taiwan’s lifestyle culture gradually emerged from the shadow of political ideologies and moved toward a modern, free era. This also opened a door to the imagination of “freedom.” While seeking and yearning for modernity, architecture became a window into the postwar cultural shifts in Taiwanese life. The physical presence of architecture also attests to the authenticity of cultural events, making it a tangible cultural form that interacts with these events.

The third lecture will explore the interpretation and representation of the architectural archives featured in the exhibition, beginning with the “Solicitation Project of Post-World War II Classic Architectural Drawing of Taiwan” initiated by the National Taiwan Museum in 2006. The lecture will feature Meng-Ying Shen, Executive Secretary of the Taiwan Museum Foundation, who will share her research on archives, including the Governor-General’'s Office Archives, the U.S. National Archives, the Taiwan National Archives, the Taiwan Museum’'s Modern Architecture Drawing Archives, and the National Cultural Database, along with their application in exhibitions. 

Additionally, Assistant Professor Chang-Chih Hsu from the Department of Architecture at Chung Yuan Christian University will introduce the recently released documentary series From Imagination to Realization. The series documents and preserves the stories of architectural complexes, including the Holy Cross Church in Jingliao, Tainan; Taipei University of the Sacred Heart; the Wave Tower of San Sin High School of Commerce and Home Economics in Kaohsiung; and the architectural cluster of Taipei Medical University. Through site visits, the translation of professional architectural drawings, expert guidance, and dynamic model production, the series demonstrates the close connection between architecture and living culture.