Taichung Prefectural Hall Introduction
The history of Taichung's governmental construction began during the Qing Dynasty under the governorship of Liu Ming-chuan, who built the largest fortification in Taiwan, known as the Taiwan Provincial City, intended as a provincial capital and to control the north-south territories. After the cession of Taiwan in 1895, the Japanese military established the "Taiwan Civil Administration Branch" within the northwest corner of the official buildings located inside the city's Xiaobeimen. Following changes in administrative systems, Taichung had various names, including Taichung City Hall and Taichung Prefecture during the Meiji period. The construction of a new Taichung Prefecture building began in the Taisho era, using this area as the development base, progressively dismantling Qing Dynasty government offices from east to west for the establishment of modern administrative buildings. The Prefectural Office was part of the "permanent office building" construction project during the Japanese rule and was designed simultaneously with the original Taipei Prefecture Office (now the Control Yuan) and the original Tainan Prefecture Office (now the National Center for Cultural Heritage). It was positioned as a new building for the three top-ranking prefectures of that time; along with the Taiwan Governor's Office (now the Presidential Office), it was a leading type of construction that transitioned from wooden temporary structures to early brick-wood mixed structures, eventually embracing a mature phase of predominantly reinforced brick construction. This played an important role in Taiwan's architectural history. In terms of construction results and current preservation compared to other existing examples and sister works, Taichung Prefecture Office retains most of its original structural integrity, showcasing significant preservation value and research importance in modern architectural history, continuing its role as a local administrative center while representing regional historical events and changes. It is currently temporarily registered as a historic building. Construction of the Taichung Prefecture Office began in 1912 and was completed in 1913 with the first phase, experiencing four expansions, ultimately completing its present scale in 1934, designed by Japanese architect Sonoyama Matsunosuke. The Taichung Prefectural Office governed Taichung City, Changhua County, and Nantou County, while the Taichung City Office was the then government of Taichung City. After World War II, the Taichung City Government moved to its current site and continues to operate there, while the Taichung Prefectural Office has been designated a city municipal historic site. The overall design of the Taichung Prefectural Office mimics the French Beaux-Arts style, with a prominent "Beaux-Arts" roof on the façade. The main structure is an L-shaped, two-story building oriented to the east, featuring a tower-like projection in the center, with corner towers on both sides connecting the wing buildings. The entrance foyer on the first floor features Doric columns, while the second floor adopts Ionic columns, with a recessed balcony enhancing the shadow effects of the façade. The design of the Taichung Prefectural Office underscores its political stature and importance in the city, conforming to Taichung’s street plan, with the main entrance positioned at the corner of a significant thoroughfare, a characteristic of government building architecture during the Japanese rule.
