Chen Chung-ho Memorial Hall Introduction
The Chen Chung-He Memorial Hall, located in Lingya District, was once the residence of the prominent Chen Chung-He family in Kaohsiung. Completed in 1925, this Baroque-style mansion sits on a plot of 900 ping, with a sprawling yard of 2700 ping. The building is exquisitely designed, elegant, and grand, representing the first private Western-style house in the Kaohsiung area. It is a two-story brick structure featuring refined arches, columns, verandas, and triangular gables as Western architectural elements. Inside, the layout follows a nine-square grid design, with classical gables, tiger windows, keystones, facing floors, window frames, and stone columns, all of which reflect the traditional Minnan architectural style, showcasing its unique hybrid characteristics. Once a magnificent mansion, the first Western-style building has faded with time. In 1996, a foundation established by the Chen family commissioned the National Cheng Kung University’s Department of Architecture to restore it according to historical records and open it for public visits, displaying Chen family artifacts. Strolling through the corridors filled with former splendor, one can appreciate the architectural beauty and the historical grandeur of the prominent family. Cultural activities also nourish the soul, allowing visitors to gaze at the sunset over the harbor from the railing, with an expansive sea view that is infinitely beautiful.
