Taichung City Hall Introduction
Taichung City Hall was built during the Japanese colonial period in the 44th year of the Meiji era (1911). The building is designed in a Western classical style, known for its Tsuneyoshi-style red and white brick walls, and is the first reinforced concrete building in the Taichung area. Initially, it served as the Taichung Office of the Public Irrigation Association and the Taichung City Administrative Office, and it also functioned as the Municipal Information Center, Press Room, and Office for the Transportation Bureau. This building is a well-known landmark and a historical symbol of the city, which was announced as a historical building in 2002. The city hall's architectural form resembles Baroque style and is a large modern public office building characterized by expressive openings, diverse door and window designs, and intricate decorations. The main entrance features a two-story portico supported by Greek Ionic columns, with the façade finished in stucco and adorned with arch stones and crests on the gable. The classical luxurious dome, composed of eight timber trusses, is not only eye-catching but is also one of the few wooden domes from the same period in Taiwan, surrounded by circular dormer windows. The building combines brick, wood, reinforced concrete, and steel construction techniques, making it a classic example of architectural technology from the Japanese colonial period. In 2004, the city hall completed its investigation, research, and restoration plan, and the restoration was finished in 2016. The Cultural Affairs Bureau continues to operate it through a Public-Private Partnership, and the management rights have been obtained by "Hao Yi Si Co., Ltd." The first floor "Hao Yi Si Cultural Space" hosts thematic permanent exhibitions and includes a shared reading area, presentations of local industries, and cultural and aesthetic handcrafted experiences. The second floor Italian restaurant "Narratore" features Northern Italian cuisine curated by Chef Lance, who previously worked at a Michelin one-star restaurant in Italy. It is hoped that Taichung City Hall will become a hub for cultural and artistic activities in Western Taichung, bridging the gap between the public and historical culture, revitalizing the local economy, and becoming a representative historical cultural building in Taichung. Opening hours: 1F "Hao Yi Si" Cultural Space: Wednesday to Sunday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM; 2F "Narratore" Italian Restaurant: Wednesday to Sunday: 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM; Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
