Experimental Timber Yard Introduction
Chiayi Experimental Wood Workshop was originally the former dormitory complex of an old prison, which had been abandoned for over a decade and had fallen into disrepair. In recent years, the city government has promoted the "Recreating the Wood Capital Historical Site Project," transforming two four-unit buildings, comprising a total of eight dormitories, into the Experimental Wood Workshop. This is the first experimental woodworking factory in Chiayi City, serving as a base for experimentation, exchange, and cultivation of woodworking talent in collaboration with industry, government, and academia. It is hoped that Chiayi City's unique wooden city characteristics can be showcased and promoted. The Experimental Wood Workshop is located at the center of the old prison dormitory complex, utilizing the two four-unit Japanese-style dormitories to create distinct woodworking spaces in the north and south wings. The north wing preserves the remnants and appearance of the Japanese dormitory, transforming traditional wood structures into innovative wooden spaces using structural design techniques, while incorporating modern seismic construction methods to enhance the support and seismic capacity of traditional wooden buildings. The south wing is based on the Japanese dormitory but features innovative characteristics with modern wood materials and structures, allowing for a spacious interior with large-span structures. The south wing will serve as a woodworking factory, while the north wing will function as research, teaching, and exhibition space, showcasing the fusion and dialogue between new and old woodworking construction methods.
