Guo Ziyi Memorial Hall_Neihu Red House Introduction
Neihu's Kuoh Residence, the first residence of the township chief Kuo during the Japanese colonial period, is located on a hillside on the west side of Neihu District. It was built around the 8th year of the Taisho era (1919), during a time when Taiwanese society was stable and the economy was thriving. The style of official buildings influenced private residences; for example, the storefront facades on Dihua Street in Taipei often featured elaborate Baroque decorations, using red bricks, washed pebbles, mud sculptures, and colored tiles, also known as Taisho-style architecture. The Kuoh Residence in Neihu is a typical mansion from this period. The ancient residence is situated on the hillside of a small hill, facing south, surrounded by forest on three sides, creating an extremely tranquil atmosphere. The layout of the old house is slightly T-shaped, constructed entirely of brick and wood. The exterior walls are made of red bricks popular during the Taisho era, adorned with washed pebbles and colored porcelain imported from Japan. The interior floors are wooden, supported by numerous wooden beams, and equipped with light beams to hang traditional Taiwanese furnaces and lanterns. The windows on the front facade have varied forms, with arched balconies protruding, and the hilltop resembles a style close to Baroque, featuring beautiful swirling curves. In recent years, the hilltop has been inscribed with "Bifeng Temple," which was intended to be converted into a temple, but this has not been realized. (Source: Ministry of Culture, Cultural Heritage Administration)
