Grand Courtyard Introduction
On November 1, 2012, it was designated as a historical building after being reviewed and approved by the Taipei City Government's Cultural Affairs Bureau, named "National Taiwan University Public Dormitory." In the early hours of February 5, 2013, it was suddenly struck by a fire. In 2015, the ROT project was acquired by Shujin Kuo, chairperson of Lichi Construction, and restoration was completed after nearly three and a half years. Due to nearby residents referring to this cluster of buildings as "Dai Yuanzi," it was opened to the public under that name after restoration. The architectural background of the public dormitory, Dai Yuanzi, was built during the Japanese rule. According to old building documents, the structure was designed and contracted by the Accounting Division of the Governor-General's Office of Taiwan, with Bansuke Nishi as the contractor, and the "topping ceremony" was held on March 8, 1931, during the 6th year of the Shōwa era. There are two explanations regarding the historical background of the National Taiwan University Public Dormitory. The first, according to the official records from the Ministry of Culture's Cultural Heritage Information website, indicates that in its early days, it belonged to the Japanese Navy as the "Sui No Kiwa," serving as a "guesthouse" or "club" for naval officers. The second explanation relates to the single official dormitory of Taihoku Imperial University during the Japanese rule. Whether it was the "Sui No Kiwa" or the single officer's dormitory, there are currently no primary historical materials to substantiate its original purpose and function, deepening the mystery and historical depth of the National Taiwan University Public Dormitory. Reference: Dai Yuanzi (Japanese Navy Guesthouse) Official Website
