Presidential Office Building, Taipei Audio Guide

Presidential Office Building: what does the audio guide cover?

1. 01

   Welcome to the Presidential Office Building, Taipei

   Welcome to downtown Taipei, where one of the city's most recognizable buildings rises in front of you. Its façade is banded in red and white, and it is crowned by a tall central tower. This is the Presidential Office Building, on Chongqing South Road, Section 1. Today it is a symbol of Taiwan's central government and a famous historical landmark. But the building did not begin life as a presidential home. It was built as the headquarters of the governor-general of Taiwan, during the decades of Japanese rule. It was once the tallest building on the island. Over time it has gone from a place many older residents remember as solemn and forbidding to one that feels much more approachable. Over the next few stops, you will hear how the building came to be, why it looks the way it does, how it survived a wartime air raid, and what it has become. If you are visiting on foot, you will find it a short walk southwest of National Taiwan University Hospital Station on the Taipei Metro.

2. 02

   From Colonial Headquarters to Design Contest

   Our story starts in 1895, when Japanese rule of Taiwan and the Pescadores began. On June 14 of that year, Governor-General Kabayama moved the seat of government to Taipei. He set up temporary headquarters in the former Qing dynasty Taiwan Provincial Administration Compound, the largest group of official buildings in the city at that time. Temporary was never meant to last. The new rulers began making long-term plans for the island, and those plans soon included a purpose-built headquarters for the governor-general. The idea of holding an architectural design contest came from Shinpei Goto, who was in charge of civil affairs at the Taiwan Governor's Office under the fourth governor. The contest ran in two stages, in 1906 and 1910. Construction began in 1912 and was completed in 1919. In those years, major public buildings were often designed with Western architectural influences, as a way of showing modernization. So when you look up at this façade, you are looking at a statement about how its builders wanted to be seen.

3. 03

   Red Brick, Balconies and a Baroque Silhouette

   Take a moment with the façade. The building is described as Baroque in style, and its red brickwork is banded with white. Behind that brick is a steel-reinforced concrete structure. This choice was distinctive. Colonial administrative headquarters in Southeast Asia at that time often had stone exteriors, but the Governor-General's Office was clothed in red brick. In Western architectural thinking, stone stands for eternity, while brick speaks more of commerce and the Industrial Revolution. Now look at how the building responds to Taipei's climate. The east, south and west sides have balconies, to suit the subtropical heat. The north side has none, because it receives much less sunlight. It is a neat piece of design logic you can read straight off the walls. The building's height mattered too. It was once the tallest on the island of Taiwan, and even today the tower gives it a commanding presence among the streets around it.

4. 04

   War Damage, a New Name and a New Role

   The building's story took a dramatic turn in May 1945, during the Taipei air raid. Allied forces heavily damaged it, and the front left side suffered serious harm. Yet the soundness of its construction allowed the main structure to survive. In 1946, the building was extensively renovated and renamed Chieh Shou Hall, in celebration of President Chiang Kai-shek's sixtieth birthday. After the Republic of China government relocated to Taiwan in 1949, the building officially became the Office of the President. Restoration work was eventually completed in 1961. In 1998, it was declared a national historic site and an important cultural asset. A story also circulates in Taiwan about a hidden tunnel. Former President Chen Shui-bian said that the grounds of the Shilin Official Residence hold the entrance to a tunnel connecting to this building. It is a tale told by a former president, so you can enjoy it as a piece of local lore.

5. 05

   Before You Head Off

   In 2019, the building celebrated its hundredth birthday. These days it has acquired a sense of intimacy that older residents might not have expected. Visitors can explore areas such as the Taiwan Heritage Room, the President's Hall, the Rainbow Room and the Auditorium, which showcase Taiwan's history, culture and presidential heritage. In 2019, an unusual program even invited international guests to spend a night inside. Before you move on, notice how much sits within walking distance. The Judicial Yuan Building, 228 Memorial Park and the National Taiwan Museum are all close by. A few blocks to the west lies the lively Ximending shopping district. As you wander, see if you can spot the bands of red and white from different angles, and think about what a building like this chooses to say with its brick, its balconies and its tower.