Dongcun Dormitory Introduction
The "Nanzhuang East Village Dormitory" was established in 1935 and rebuilt in 1940. Originally named "Nanzhuang Brain Storage Office," it served as the collection and management office for brain production, with the initial layout including "storage warehouses," a "manager's office," and "patrol officer's dormitory." In 2007, in response to local calls for preservation, the Miaoli County Government evaluated the dormitory as a forestry-related structure, recognizing it as a significant case of Taiwan's industrial historical buildings and an important example of Japanese colonial architecture in Miaoli County. It is well-preserved, situated in a beautiful environment, and has substantial value for preservation and reuse, leading to its announcement as a historical building on June 14 of that year. Currently, this historical building consists of the manager’s dormitory, patrol officer's dormitory, bathroom, and toilet. It features a single story structure made up of three interconnected buildings. The architectural characteristics include a mixed-use building that serves both as an office and residence, and it is one of the few remaining small public bathhouses for residential use in Taiwan. The layout consists of an L-shaped office and manager's dormitory, a M-shaped patrol officer's dormitory, and a standalone building for the dormitory's public bath and toilet. The roof retains traditional Japanese architectural details such as ridge ends and demon tiles, with the framework constructed using traditional methods. The exterior walls are made of unjointed "armor-like" rain boards, and the foundation consists of a brick base with an elevated floor structure, showcasing high cultural preservation value. This site preserves local historical memories and connects the expanded travel routes in Nanzhuang. In 2018, the historical building was repurposed, with active restoration and reuse efforts underway. It continues to operate under a "cultural tourism" model, linking attractions around Nanzhuang Old Street and diverse bicycle routes on Shitou Mountain, enriching the cultural tourism characteristics of the entire Nanzhuang area and ensuring the historical significance of the building is conveyed and perpetuated through visitors.
