Meiting Introduction
Beitou Meiting, built in the late 1930s, is a Western-style villa that witnessed the wartime period and was constructed in accordance with the local characteristics of Beitou. Standing near Beitou Park for nearly a century, its owners have included the Japanese Governor-General's Office, the Minister of Army, and Taipei Prefecture. After World War II in 1945, it mainly served as a private residence, and in 2006, it was registered as a historical building of Taipei City due to its architectural features. Built along the terrain adjacent to the Beitou Stream, it combines the mountain view to the south with the flowing stream. The upper level features a Japanese wooden framework, while the lower level includes a reinforced concrete basement used as a shelter during air raids. This design makes it unique and holds historical value among contemporary Japanese street houses. The entrance column bears the plaque "Meiting," inscribed by the calligrapher Yu You-ren. In the courtyard, there is a protected camphor tree (No. 1679) under Taipei City's Tree Protection Autonomous Regulations, and the surrounding walls are made of abandoned Quiriguan stone. The interior space is carefully designed, utilizing Beitou's rich geothermal resources to previously include a "hot spring bath." It is built with an "attic" for observation and storage, which also regulates indoor temperature and humidity, serving as both the ceiling of the lower floor and a supporting structure. The entrance is adorned with glazed mosaic tiles and a pebble column, showcasing the beauty of craftsmanship, while the design of the "octagonal window" reflects the Western-style decoration that emerged during the Japanese era, subtle and elegant, demonstrating a sense of the era and construction beauty. In 2021, the Taipei City Cultural Bureau commissioned the Taipei Cultural Foundation for its operation and maintenance to enhance the reuse of cultural assets and local promotion. In the future, it will continue to reflect Beitou's unique cultural characteristics through art exhibitions and educational activities, creating a vibrant space that combines history, humanity, and cultural arts.
