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The Beauty of the Historic Building


      National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall completed in 1972 is designed by the famous architect in Taiwan, Mr. Wang Da-hung, and designated as the municipal historic building by Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government, on May 3, 2019. The major reason is that the hall is one of the representative public constructions after Taiwan’s restoration. The hall is designed by the important modernist architect in Taiwan, Wang Da-hung. The characteristics including the overall layout, surrounding corridor, cornice, and curved roof of the main entrance all shape the style combining modernism and Chinese traditional architectural spirit and make the hall the classical work in the development of the history of modern architecture in Taiwan. The building appearance and the overall landscape of the outdoor plaza have become the important visual image of the city space of Taipei City. Mr. Wang Da-hung said, “Dr. Sun Yat-sen is a revolutionary, so there must be some innovation for the building in memory of him. His behavior and life are characterized by plainness and simplicity, so the building should not be vulgar and gorgeous. Instead, it should be stately and friendly.”
 The Chinese traditional architecture is the representative of the oriental architecture. After the Chinese architecture is modernized, it is found that many elements originate from the evolution and concept of calligraphy. The four angles of the building are curved upwardly. The design is transformed from the character “ren (people)” in calligraphy. The building of the hall combines the elements of “red bricks, yellow tiles, and green forest.” Besides, the architectural characteristics including the Tang-style streamlined yellow roof, the four curved roof angles extended to the sky, the upward cornice at the entrance, fair-faced brick wall covered with red steel bricks, the columns made with the chiseling technique, the special care for 135 degrees between the columns and beam corners, the simple bench beside the columns of the surrounding corridors, the warm design of the beauty’s rails, the slender ratio of 1:4 between the width and height of the gate, solemnity and grandeur, and the color choice of dark red all manifest Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s personal traits of plainness, simplicity, and friendliness as well as the meaning of “fraternity,” the focus of his thinking.


Designer of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Mr. Wang Da-min.jpg

Preliminary design model of the building of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.jpg

Designer of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Mr. Wang Da-hung.

Preliminary design model of the building of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.。

Wang Da-min’s design concept of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.jpg

Cornerstone Laying Ceremony of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in 1965.jpg

Wang Da-min’s design concept of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall。

Cornerstone Laying Ceremony of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in 1965。

President and honorary chairman Mr. Chiang Kai-shek unveiled the monument in 1965.jpg

Full front view of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall under construction, courtesy by Mr. Huang Zheng-xiong.jpg

President and honorary chairman Mr. Chiang Kai-shek unveiled the monument in 1965。

Full front view of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall under construction, courtesy by Mr. Huang Zheng-xiong。

Full west view of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall under construction, courtesy by Mr. Huang Zheng-xiong.jpg

Front view of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, photo taken by architect Zhang Jing-de.jpg

Full west view of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall under construction, courtesy by Mr. Huang Zheng-xiong。

Front view of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, photo taken by architect Zhang Jing-de。

The original design layout of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.jpg

The architectural beauty combining the image of red bricks, yellow tiles, and green forest.jpg

The original design layout of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall。

The architectural beauty combining the image of red bricks, yellow tiles, and green forest。

The upward cornice at the entrance of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall symbolizes the revolution that overthrew the ruling of Qing Dynasty..jpg

The upward cornice at the entrance of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.jpg

The upward cornice at the entrance of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall symbolizes the revolution that overthrew the ruling of Qing Dynasty。

Warm corridor, special care for 135 degrees, and fair-faced brick wall covered with red steel bricks。

The slender solemn gate design at the façade of the building.jpg

The four curved roof angles extended upwardly to the sky.jpg

The slender solemn gate design at the façade of the building。

The four curved roof angles extended upwardly to the sky。

The curved roof angles of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.jpg

The straight stylish beams at the top of the building.jpg

The curved roof angles of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall。

The straight stylish beams at the top of the building。

The beauty’s rails made with the chiseling technique.jpg

The warm design of the beauty’s rails.jpg

The beauty’s rails made with the chiseling technique。

The warm design of the beauty’s rails。

The columns and rails at the corner of the solemn elevated hall of brightness and smoothness.jpg

大廳莊嚴高挑、通透流暢.jpg

The columns and rails at the corner 。

The solemn elevated hall of brightness and smoothness。