Taichung City Hall Introduction
Taichung City Hall was built during the Japanese colonial period in 1911 and is renowned for its Neoclassical architecture, featuring a distinct red and white brick style. It was the first reinforced concrete building in the Taichung area. Originally, it served as the office of the Taichung Public Irrigation Association and the Taichung City Administrative Office, and has also functioned as a municipal archive, news center, and offices for the Transportation Bureau, making it a prominent landmark and historical symbol in the city. In 2002, it was designated as a historical building. The City Hall's architecture imitates the Baroque style and is a large modern government structure with an emphasis on unique openings; doors and windows are diverse in design and richly decorated. The main entrance features a two-story columned porch, adhering to the Greek Ionic style, with a facade finished in plaster and decorated with keystones and gables adorned with crests. The classical ornate dome, made of eight wooden trusses, is visually striking and is one of the few wooden domes from the same period in Taiwan, encircled by round skylights. This building exemplifies the construction techniques of the Japanese colonial period, utilizing a combination of brick, wood, reinforced concrete, and steel structures. A survey and restoration plan for the Taichung City Hall were completed in 2004, with renovations finishing in 2016. The Cultural Affairs Bureau, in accordance with the Promotion of Participation Act (OT), commissioned a private company to manage the site, which is currently operated by "How Art Think Co., Ltd." The first floor features the "You Art Space," which hosts themed permanent exhibitions and includes a communal reading area and local industry displays as well as cultural and aesthetic craft experiences. The second floor houses the Italian restaurant "Narratore," which offers Northern Italian cuisine curated by chef Lance Lin, formerly of a Michelin one-star restaurant in Italy. The aim is for Taichung City Hall to become a hub for artistic and cultural energy in the West District, bridging the gap between the public and historical culture, revitalizing the local economy, and becoming a representative historical and cultural building in Taichung. Opening hours: 1F "You Art Space": Wednesday to Sunday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM 2F "Narratore": Wednesday to Sunday: 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
