Big Courtyard Introduction
On November 1, 2012, it was approved by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taipei City Government and registered as a historical building, named "National Taiwan University Public Dormitory." In the early hours of February 5, 2013, it was suddenly damaged by fire. In 2015, Guo Shuzhen, the chairman of Lichih Construction, obtained the ROT project from National Taiwan University, and the restoration was completed after nearly three and a half years. Because nearby residents referred to this building complex as "Daiyuzi," it was opened to the public under that name after restoration. The architectural background of the public dormitory dates back to the Japanese colonial period. According to the old building documentation, the structure was designed and contracted by the Government-General of Taiwan's Bureau of Accounting, and the contractor was Yamaguchi Yoshizane, with the "topping-out ceremony" held on March 8, 1931. There are two historical accounts regarding the background of the National Taiwan University Public Dormitory. One is based on the official records from the Cultural Heritage Online Database of the Ministry of Culture, which indicates that in its early days, it belonged to the Imperial Japanese Navy as "Suijoso," a "guesthouse" or "club" for naval officers. The second account indicates that it was the bachelor quarters for faculty members of Taihoku Imperial University during the Japanese colonial period. Whether it was "Suijoso" or "bachelor quarters," currently there is no primary historical data to corroborate its purpose and function, deepening the mystery and historical depth of the National Taiwan University Public Dormitory. Reference: Daiyuzi (Imperial Japanese Navy Guesthouse) official website.
