Big Yard Introduction
On November 1, 2012, the Taipei City Government's Bureau of Cultural Affairs approved its registration as a historical building, naming it "National Taiwan University Public Dormitory." In the early hours of February 5, 2013, it was suddenly engulfed in flames. In 2015, the director of Licchi Construction, Shuchin Kuo, obtained the ROT project of National Taiwan University, and the restoration was completed after nearly three and a half years. Because local residents referred to this building complex as "Dayuanzi," it was opened to the public under that name after restoration. The architectural background of the public dormitory is that Dayuanzi was built during the Japanese colonial period. According to old building records, it was designed and contracted by the Government-General of Taiwan's Accounting Office, with Yasu Hirabayashi as the contractor, and the "topping-out ceremony" was held on March 8, 1931. There are two theories regarding the historical background of the National Taiwan University Public Dormitory. The first is based on the official records of the Ministry of Culture's cultural assets information website, which indicates that in its early days it belonged to the Japanese Navy's "Suijokai," which served as a "guesthouse" or "club" for naval officers. The second theory suggests that it was a bachelor dormitory for faculty members of Taihoku Imperial University during the Japanese colonial period. Whether as "Suijokai" or a bachelor officer's dormitory, there are currently no primary historical materials to substantiate its purpose and function, adding to the mystery and historical depth of the National Taiwan University Public Dormitory. Reference information: Dayuanzi (Japanese Navy Guesthouse) official website.
