Guo Ziyi Memorial Hall - Neihu Red House Introduction
Neihu's first village chief, Guo's residence, is located on a hillside on the west side of Neihu City. It was built around the eighth year of the Taisho era (1919). At that time, Taiwanese society was stable, and the economy was prosperous; the architectural style of official buildings influenced civilian residential architecture. For example, the shop facades on Dihua Street in Taipei became popular with Baroque embellishments, using red bricks, washed pebbles, mud sculptures, and colorful tiles, a style also referred to as Taisho-style architecture. Guo's residence in Neihu is a typical mansion from this period. The ancient Guo residence is situated on the slope of a small hill, facing south, and surrounded by trees on three sides, creating a tranquil environment. The layout of the residence is slightly T-shaped, constructed entirely of brick and wood. The exterior walls are made of red bricks that were popular during the Taisho era, adorned with washed pebbles and imported Japanese colorful tiles. The interior flooring is wooden, supported by numerous wooden beams, and has light beams that can hold traditional Taiwanese lanterns and incense burners. The windows on the main facade are varied in design, featuring an arched balcony that protrudes; the hillside shape is reminiscent of the Baroque style, rich in curvilinear aesthetics. In recent years, the hillside was inscribed with the name of Bibong Temple, indicating a proposal to convert it into a temple, although it has not been realized. (Source: Ministry of Culture, Cultural Heritage Bureau)
