Gongdong High School Chapel Building Introduction
Founded in the year 1957 by Father Pierre Blais of the Missionaries of the Holy Family, Gong Dong Senior High School was established as one of the most important missions of the missionary community in its early years in Taiwan. The primary goal was to assist youth from the remote areas of Hualien and Taitung in obtaining better life opportunities through vocational education, while also cultivating the skilled workforce needed for Taiwan's industrial development. The teaching at Gong Dong Senior High School is very rigorous; in its first ten years, education was mainly conducted by 15 Swiss technicians, with teaching materials and methods imported from Europe. This made Gong Dong Senior High School one of the most prestigious institutions in Taiwan's vocational education sector, nurturing many talented individuals who have achieved expertise in their fields and won numerous international awards. In addition to its strong reputation in vocational education in recent years, the architecture on campus reflects the Missionaries' attention to foundational care for Gong Dong Senior High School. They specifically hired Swiss architect Dr. Justurs Dahinden, who worked seamlessly with structural engineer Dr. Schubiger to create outstanding school building designs. The unique panel structure design and the ample coordination in architectural planning enabled the use of reinforcing steel to be only half that compared to typical buildings. This was a remarkable approach, especially during a time when construction materials were scarce and costly. Among the three early campus buildings, the chapel building is especially notable. The small chapel on the top floor makes full use of a slanted roof, rough cement wall finishes, soft yet dramatic natural light throughout the main axis of the chapel, and colorful stained glass inserts in the walls, creating a heavy, dark, and contemplative sacred space filled with religious symbolism that can rival the spatial techniques of renowned architect Le Corbusier in the Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut and La Tourette Monastery. Once completed, the campus quickly became a focal point for local architects in Taiwan and gained such recognition that it was featured in the professional magazine "Architecture." In recent years, scholarly papers have been written focusing on this building for analysis. Professional photographers have also produced rich and vivid photographic books about the chapel building and Father Blais, making it not only a well-known pilgrimage site in the architectural community but also granting the chapel building its unique significance and historical background, leading to its registration as a historical building in 2003. Gradually, it has become a point of interest for travelers visiting Taitung!
