Department of Cultural Affairs

By Gia Tang
Photos from Wang Da Hong House
 
The Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM) recently launched the “Wang Da Hong House Theater,” an art project where visitors listen to an audioguide of the history of the house as they walk around experiencing Wang’s architectural philosophy. As the designer of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and the National Palace Museum, Wang was a pioneer of modernist architecture in Taiwan. His modernist designs were informed by the traditional Chinese garden and the Siheyuan (四合院), a traditional family residence of four rectangular brick dwellings built around a courtyard.
 
In the theatrical presentation, the audience sees the performance, listens to the dialogue, and enters the world depicted by the presentation. The Wang Da Hong House Theater seeks to provide visitors with the same audiovisual, imaginative experience as a piece of theatre.


The modernist house features a red, black, and white color scheme and plain brick walls in demonstration of Wang Da Hong’s aesthetic.  
 
Located in the Taipei Art Park, next to the museum, Wang Da Hong House is a replica of Wang’s 1950s residence on Jianguo South Road. The replica uses a red, black, and white color scheme, with exposed brick walls and round windows expressing the modernist aesthetic of the famed architect. 
 
“This reproduction of Wang’s house is a treasure-trove of memories, material details of family affection, and Taiwan’s architectural history,” said TFAM director Lin Ping. “TFAM plans to use it as a platform to promote exchanges and projects.”
 

Visitors listen to the house’s fascinating history on the audioguide.


The activity is organized by local theater troupe CO-COISM and is open to all every Sunday from now until September 23, 2018. Each immersive session can accommodate 3 to 6 participants and lasts around 30 minutes. Those interested can register online starting at 10 am every Monday. 


Round windows and exposed brick give an oriental flavor to the modernist house.