Experimental Wood Yard Introduction
The Chiayi Experimental Wood Factory was formerly the old prison dormitory complex, which had been abandoned for over a decade and fallen into disrepair. In recent years, the city government has promoted the "Revisiting the Timber Capital Historical Site Project." Among this initiative, two four-unit dormitory buildings were transformed into the Experimental Wood Factory, making it the first experimental woodworking factory in Chiayi City. It serves as a base for experiments, exchanges, and training of woodworking talents in collaboration with the industry, government, and academia, with the hope that the unique characteristics of Chiayi as a timber capital will be recognized and promoted. The Experimental Wood Factory is located at the heart of the old prison dormitory complex in Chiayi, utilizing the restructured design of the two four-unit Japanese dormitories to shape two distinct woodworking parks in the north and south. The northern building preserves the heritage and appearance of the Japanese dormitory, using structural design techniques to transform traditional wooden structures into contemporary wooden spaces and integrating modern seismic-resistant methods to enhance the support and seismic capacity of traditional wooden buildings. The southern building is based on the Japanese dormitory but features innovative characteristics with new wooden materials and structures, allowing for a spacious interior with large spans. The southern building will function as a woodworking factory, while the northern building will serve as research, teaching, and exhibition space, demonstrating the integration and dialogue between old and new wooden construction techniques.
