Dai Yuan Zi Introduction
On November 1, 2012, it was approved by the Taipei City Government's Department of Cultural Affairs and registered as a historical building, named "National Taiwan University Public Dormitory". In the early morning of February 5, 2013, it was suddenly struck by a fire. In 2015, the ROT project was acquired by Guo Shuzhen, Chairman of Lichi Construction, and the restoration was completed after nearly three and a half years. Since nearby residents referred to this architectural complex as "Dayuanzi," it was opened to the public under that name after restoration. The architectural background of the public dormitory, Dayuanzi, dates back to the Japanese colonial period. According to old documents, it was designed and contracted by the Accounting Department of the Government-General of Taiwan, with Yama Moto Shi as the contractor, and the "topping-out ceremony" was held on March 8, 1931. There are two main historical narratives regarding the National Taiwan University Public Dormitory. The first, according to official records from the Ministry of Culture's Cultural Heritage Information Network, indicates that it was initially part of the Japanese Navy's "Suikōsha," serving as a club or guesthouse for naval officers. The second narrative suggests it was the bachelor housing for faculty members of Taihoku Imperial University during the Japanese colonial period. Regardless of whether it was "Suikōsha" or the bachelor officers' quarters, there are currently no primary historical materials to substantiate its purpose and function at the time of establishment, which adds to the mystery and historical depth of the National Taiwan University Public Dormitory. Reference: Dayuanzi (Japanese Navy Guesthouse) Official Website.
