As I mentioned previously, I will be flying to Tunghai University in Taiwan with a small group of classmates this upcoming May. I am really looking forward to traveling to Asia and experiencing an entirely new culture. As part of my pre-departure research, I have been looking into Taiwanese architecture. From what I have seen thus far, it is entirely different than any designs I have seen in Pittsburgh, let alone the United States.
From my understanding, traditional Taiwanese architecture was largely influenced by Chinese designs. Similarities between the two include building the structure along an axis of symmetry, enclosed courtyards, wood construction, key bricks, and roofing heights. Despite the commonalities, Taiwanese design has developed in a unique way. The modern population in Taiwan is descended from immigrants, who came from two southern Chinese provinces. When these immigrants began to create fresh structures in Taiwan, they produced buildings with inspiration from their homeland. They were also free to experiment in their designs now that they were not forced to follow strict Qing Dynasty construction regulations.
Chinese and Taiwanese architecture can therefore be classified into separate distinctions:
The Chinese Northern Style utilizes rigid construction, gently curved eaves, and heavy materials, all characteristics of the Qing Dynasty.
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| Gently Curved Eaves at the Forbidden City - China |
The Taiwanese Southern Approach illustrates deeply curved eaves and lighter materials. Without such strict construction mandates, fortunate dimensions were developed that outlined orientation, height, width, and depth measurements. If followed correctly, fortunate dimensions brought good luck and karma to the building dweller.
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| Sharply Curved Eaves at a Taiwanese Pond |
Now that I have learned the differences, I will be sure to look for them while I am in Asia this spring! For readers of this blog who live in Taiwan, do buildings actually look this way, whether in rural or urban areas? What makes a structure perfectly classified as Taiwanese architecture in your opinion?
Research courtesy of S. C. Chiou's The Fortunate Dimensions of Taiwanese Traditional Architecture (Issue #5 - P. 547-562) and The Grammar of Taiwanese Traditional Vernacular Dwellings (Issue #6 - P. 689-720), both found in Volume #22 of Environment and Planning.
Make it count.
RMS
Hi, Rachel. I am your learning partner in Tunghai University, Eddie. I found that you are interested in architecture. Although I am not an expert on architecture, I still intend to explore the beauty of art. I think you are a hard-working student. Before you approach to a new thing, you must have done so many investigations on it. Taiwan is an island where full of history and Taiwan also have a close connection with China. However, China also has influence on Taiwan’s architecture. As a result, I recommend you a beautiful place in Taipei that also is one of my favorite sights, National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The entire architectural design concept is to express the spirit of Chinese culture, a solemn and unique style. In addition, the architectural appearance of it mainly blue and white, is a symbol of freedom, equality of the republic of China.
ReplyDeleteHello, Rachel. I’m Hannah, and I would like to share some of my opinions with you though I’m not specializing in traditional Taiwanese architectures. To answer your question, not all Taiwanese architectures look this way. In rural areas, the traditional architectures are often three-section compounds with a yard to dry corns in sun. Usually, you see sharply curved eaves at temples and sometimes peoples’ home. In my opinion, traditional Taiwanese structures are exquisitely curved, and you can find it when visiting a temple. In my hometown, Yanshui, there are a lot of old architectures, and I hope to show you some pictures.
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