Chen Chong-he Memorial Hall Introduction
The Chen Ching-Ho Memorial Hall located in Lingya District was once the residence of the prominent Chen Ching-Ho family in Kaohsiung. Completed in 1925, the Baroque-style villa covers an area of 900 ping, with a garden spanning 2,700 ping. The building is exquisitely designed and elegantly grand, being the first private Western-style villa in the Kaohsiung area. The structure is a two-story brick building with detailed Western architectural elements such as arches, columns, corridors, and gable walls on the exterior. The interior features a nine-square grid design, classical gables, dormer windows, keystones, patterned flooring, window frames, and stone columns, retaining the traditional Min Nan architectural layout, showcasing the unique eclecticism of Min Nan and Western styles. The once splendid villa has faded with the passage of time. In 1996, a foundation established by descendants of the Chen family commissioned the National Cheng Kung University’s Department of Architecture to restore it according to historical data and open it for public visits, displaying Chen family artifacts. Strolling through the corridors filled with the remnants of past grandeur, one can appreciate the beauty of the architecture and the illustrious history of the once-prominent family. Cultural activities further nourish the soul, while gazing at the sunset over the harbor from the railing, one can enjoy the vast and beautiful sea view.
