Daiyuanzi Introduction
On November 1, 2012, it was approved by the Taipei City Government's Cultural Affairs Bureau and registered as a historical building, named "National Taiwan University Public Dormitory." In the early hours of February 5, 2013, it suffered a fire disaster. In 2015, the ROT project of National Taiwan University was acquired by Chairman Guo Shuzhen of Liky Construction, and the restoration was completed after nearly three and a half years. Since nearby residents referred to this group of buildings as "Dayuanzi," it was opened to the public under that name after restoration. The architectural history of the public dormitory dates back to the Japanese colonial period. According to the old building certificates, the structure was designed and contracted by the Governor-General of Taiwan’s Accounting Division, with Rikuji Matsumoto as the contractor. The "topping ceremony" was held on March 8, 1931 (Showa 6). There are two historical accounts regarding the National Taiwan University Public Dormitory. One is based on the official records from the Ministry of Culture's cultural heritage information website, stating that it was initially part of the Japanese Navy's "Suikyosha," which served as a "guesthouse" or "club" for naval officers. The second account suggests it was the single staff quarters of Taihoku Imperial University during the Japanese colonial period. Regardless of whether it was the "Suikyosha" or the "single officer quarters," there are currently no primary historical sources to verify its original purpose and function, which adds to the mystery and historical depth of the National Taiwan University Public Dormitory. Reference: Dayuanzi (Japanese Navy Guesthouse) official website.
