- Chinese Name: 陳國慈
- Born: Oct. 24, 1947
- Birthplace: Hong Kong
- Did You Know That…?
- When K.C. Chen was 18, she chose City University London over the University of Hong Kong as a way to change countries and pursue independence.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, K.C. Chen left her hometown at 18 years old to study law in London, and received a license to practice law at the age of 20. She was originally eager to pursue further studies in the field of music but succumbed instead to parental expectations of becoming either a doctor, lawyer, or accountant.
Despite her extensive corporate experiences, her love for arts and culture never ceased. Apart from her stellar career in law, Chen was also the first chief executive officer of the National Culture and Arts Foundation in Taiwan, and the first female vice executive of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Unlimited. She currently serves on the board of the National Performing Arts Center.
Taipei Story House
In 1975, Chen relocated to Taiwan. Unlike Hong Kong, where British-style architecture abound, Taiwan has more Japanese-style buildings. When she spotted a Tudor-inspired building in Taipei, however, Chen was reminded of her childhood. Finding herself emotionally invested, she began to look into heritage preservation.
In 2003, Chen collaborated with the Taipei City government and became the first individual to sponsor a heritage site — the Taipei Story House (台北故事館), former lodgings of a tea merchant. Located in the Yunshan area where she passes by every day, the 1913 venue has since been transformed into a cultural hotspot that preserves the city's memories and enriches the local community through cultural exhibitions.
Futai Street Mansion
In 2009, Chen sponsored her second heritage site — Futai Street Mansion (撫台街洋樓), a building built in 1910 for commercial use during the Japanese colonial era. A century later, the building is now a mini-museum that has kept its original architectural design and is dedicated to showcasing the history of Taipei's North Gate area and artworks of local artists.
To Chen, the purpose of maintaining heritage sites is more than just to preserve their physical facades, but to revive their usage. Such historical buildings should not remained vacated when they can be used to enhance community development and raise awareness of the regional history.