Guo Ziyi Memorial Hall_Hong Building Neihu Introduction
The residence of the first village chief, Mr. Kuo, during the Japanese colonial period is located on a hillside west of Neihu City Street. It was built around the eighth year of the Taisho era (1919) during a time of social stability and economic prosperity in Taiwan. The architectural style of official buildings influenced private residences, such as the Baroque decorations commonly found on the facades of the shops on Dihua Street in Taipei, which utilized red bricks, washed pebbles, mud sculptures, and colorful tiles, also known as Taisho-style architecture. The Kuo residence in Neihu is a typical mansion from this period. The historic Kuo residence is situated on the hillside of a small hill, facing south, and is surrounded by trees on three sides, creating an extremely serene environment. The layout of the ancient house is slightly T-shaped, entirely constructed of brick and wood, with external walls made of red bricks that were popular during the Taisho period, adorned with washed pebbles and Japanese-imported colored tiles. The interior floors are wooden, supported by numerous wooden beams, and feature lantern beams that can hang traditional Taiwanese incense burners and lanterns. The windows on the front facade are varied in design, with curved balconies protruding, and the overall shape of the hilltop resembles a Baroque style, rich in decorative curves. In recent years, a plaque on the hill was inscribed with "Bi Feng Temple," indicating a desire to convert it into a temple, although this has not been realized. (Source: Cultural Heritage Administration, Ministry of Culture)
