
Ming-Song Shyu Architecture Historian, Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Ming Chuan University
DH Café (No. 153, Section 3, Zhongshan North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City)
One lecture for $500, including special snacks (sandwiches, desserts, drinks), and 10% discount on event book purchases.
This year marks the centenary of the Bauhaus (1919-2019) and the first anniversary of Mr. Da-Hong Wang’s passing. Three Taiwanese architects profoundly influenced by the Bauhaus—Da-Hong Wang, Chi-Kuan Chen, and Chao-Kang Chang—each contributed in distinct ways to the development of post-war modern architecture in Taiwan. Though time has passed and the pioneers are gone, revisiting their legacy today still reveals astonishing cultural depth. On this centenary, it is essential to reflect on the vital cultural assets they bequeathed to us. This four-part lecture series marks the beginning of our profound reflection. This session is “Theme 2: Taiwan’s Architecture and Bauhaus— Chao-Kang Chang: Way of Chinese Architecture and Bauhaus.”
A fellow graduate of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design with Wang Da-Hong and I.M. Pei, Chao-Kang Chang joined them in 1954 to help shape the founding vision of Tunghai University. When the first phase of construction did not meet expectations in 1956, Chao-Kang Chang—renowned for his attention to details—was the first dispatched to Taiwan to guide the engineering efforts. His contributions included the old library, science college, gymnasium, and sections of student dormitories.
Though his time at Tunghai University was brief, Chao-Kang Chang collaborated with numerous architects on notable projects. In 1963, he returned to Taiwan to work on the Agricultural Exhibition Hall at National Taiwan University, partnered with Haigo Shen on the Shilin Shepherd’s Chapel in 1967, and in 1968, joined Haigo Shen and Eric Cumine to co-design the Chia Hsin Cement Building.
Later Chao-Kang Chang relocated to Hong Kong to work for Eric Cumine’s firm, where he began exploring the possibilities of high-rise structures. In his later years, Chao-Kang Chang led students from the University of Hong Kong on expeditions across China, documenting and measuring traditional dwellings. This effort culminated in a 1987 publication co-authored with Werner Blaser titled China: Tao in Architecture, which reinterprets Chinese vernacular buildings through the lens of modern architecture. The book reveals not only structural features but the deeper philosophical essence and transformation in Chinese architectural traditions.