Experimental Woodfield Introduction
The Chiayi Experimental Wood Workshop was formerly the dormitory complex of an old prison, which had been abandoned for over a decade and was in a state of disrepair. In recent years, the city government has promoted the "Recreation of Wood Capital's Historical Site Project", transforming two four-unit block dormitories into the Experimental Wood Workshop. This is the first experimental woodworking factory in Chiayi City, serving as a base for research, exchange, and training of woodworking talent among industry, government, and academia, aiming to showcase and promote the unique characteristics of Chiayi City as a wood capital. The Experimental Wood Workshop is located in the central area of the old prison dormitory complex, utilizing the redesign of two four-unit Japanese-style dormitories to shape two distinctive woodworking parks in the north and south. The north building retains the structure and appearance of the Japanese dormitory, where structural design techniques transform traditional wooden structures into innovative wooden spaces, incorporating modern seismic-resistant methods to enhance the support and earthquake resistance of traditional wooden architecture. The south building, based on the Japanese dormitory, features innovative characteristics with new wooden materials and structures, providing a spacious interior with large spans. The south building serves as the woodworking factory, while the north building will function as a research, teaching, and exhibition space, allowing both buildings to showcase the integration and dialogue between traditional and modern woodworking construction methods.
