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Former residence of Doctor Mao Zhao-chuan to serve as community space for youth development

  • Date:2021-07-11
Former residence of Doctor Mao Zhao-chuan to serve as community space for youth development

"The Private Old Building Preservation and Regeneration Project (私有老建築保存再生計畫)" launched by the Ministry of Culture will be constructing a cultural space for youth development titled "Zhao-chuan 1936 Youth Creative Base (川宅1936青年共創基地)."

The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Tainan City Government, in regards to the restoration, announced on July 11 that the main wooden building of doctor Mao Zhao-chuan's (毛昭川) former residence was built in the Japanese style of the 1930s. It has black and white dotted on light yellow, an RC structure, large window openings, S-shaped metal railings, and light yellow tiles coupled with the design of the 1960s, reflecting its worth as a cultural asset.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau pointed out that it received a 50% subsidy from the MOC for restoration funds in 2019. After nearly two years of renovation according to plan, the results were inspected recently. After improving on the details, it will serve as a community space for youth development in the Liuojia area titled "Zhao-chuan 1936 Youth Creative Base."

The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that the renovation process is in compliance with requirements of the MOC's "The Private Old Building Preservation and Regeneration Project" with research, planning and design carried out before construction. It further noted that the Mao family was a prominent family in the Lioujia area. Mao Zhao-chuan’s father Mao Wei-lin was the mayor of the village during Japanese rule. After obtaining qualifications in Japan, Mao returned to his hometown to practice medicine. Members of the Mao family later married the renowned "salt area writer" Wu Sing-rong (吳新榮) and doctor Wang King-ho (王金河) who was known for curing "blackfoot disease."

The Cultural Affairs Bureau pointed out that the current owners of the building Li Ya-hui (李雅惠) and Wu Zhi-cheng (吳志成) have lived around the former residence and found it a beautiful and well-preserved Japanese-styled building prior to purchasing it. Upon hearing that the building was on sale in 2018, they applied for subsidies offered by MOC's "The Private Old Building Preservation and Regeneration Project."

(Photo courtesy of Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Tainan City Government)