Did You Know That … ?
- Fascinated by the history told by architectural remnants from previous eras, professor Li Chien-lang (李乾朗) began a lifelong quest to research and record each individual story housed by such buildings.
- The 35th National Cultural Award laureate is known for meticulously preserving architectural details through hand-drawn illustrations and onsite photographs.
- For example, he has created more than a hundred drawings of the National Taiwan Museum and its subsidiary complexes, using cutaway, exploded, isometric, and perspective graphics to unveil the beauty of the museum's architecture.
Read more about the heritage preservationist here or scroll down for a sample of his illustrations.
The National Taiwan Museum: Constructed in 1908 in the Classical style, the Museum boasts a Greek temple facade and Pantheon-like vaulted ceilings. From the Japanese colonial era as the Taiwan Viceroy's Office Museum to a national historic site today, the building has witnessed the history of Taiwan and recorded the natural and anthropological development of this land.
The Land Bank Exhibition Hall: Established in 1923 to finance efforts to cultivate and commercialize land, the hall has since been transformed into the largest exhibition space of northern Taiwan dedicated to paleo-organisms after extensive restoration.
White Palace in Nanmen Park: The Goods Storehouse from 1902, more commonly known as the White Palace, is the oldest building in the Nanmen Park complex. It is also the last remaining structure in Taiwan where opium is known to have been processed.
Office of the Governor-General of Taiwan Transportation Administration Railway Department: Formerly the head office of the Taiwan Railway Administration, the Tudor-style complex is currently under renovation and will be reopened to the public as a national museum dedicated to the island’s railway history.