From desolation to rebirth
The main building having been damaged by fire, the compound had yielded to weeds and exuded a dismal atmosphere. Ignoring the silent desolation, Kuo donned her safety helmet, and brushing aside the vegetation that choked the path, fearlessly explored the hidden recesses of the place.
“This is an ROT [rehabilitate‡operate‡transfer] project. The tendering process wasn’t all that smooth.” Grand Courtyard is situated in a quiet alley off Section 1 of Taipei City’s Heping East Road, occupying approximately 1.1 acres. The place was once shrouded in mystery. Trees such as towering Formosa sweetgums and verdant pines and banyans surround the main building: an edifice covering 0.3 acres of ground and completed in 1931, when Taiwan was under Japanese rule. Designated a historic building by the Taipei City Government in 2012, Grand Courtyard had at first served as a guesthouse for Japanese naval officers before becoming a primary school for Japanese pupils. In 1952, when its ownership passed to National Taiwan University, Grand Courtyard was transformed into residential quarters for university staff.
From Kuo Su-jen’s taking on the project in 2015, the restoration took four and a half years, during which time Kuo, who subscribes to the principle that restorations should be faithful to the original, allowed no detail, however minute, to escape her supervision. “Because of their age, and because of the fire, the steel trusses had to be replaced.” The removed trusses have been preserved behind the building, offering visitors a glimpse of the past. “If we take a bird’s-eye view, we notice that the main building has a very expansive roof.” Kuo wished to do justice to the building’s original magnificence. She chose not to install a ceiling below the tallest part of the roof, in order to fully expose the wide spans of the roof structure.
“We have almost entirely reconstructed the building, from foundation to roof.” The floor, which was decaying, had sunk in many places. “With a public building, our prime concern is safety.” They left untouched the stone foundation blocks, strengthening them with reinforced concrete. With a view to durability, they opted for a terrazzo floor inlaid with brass strips, creating a plain and smooth visual effect across its wide expanse. The new ceramic roof tiles were also made and fired to look like the originals. “These tiles on the wall—they too were made to the original pattern.” Lining the upper parts of the arched windows are NTU’s iconic ribbed tiles—each with 13 grooves—which impart a pristine grace to the edifice.
Inside the glass-walled restaurant, the corridor leading to the VIP room retains its original arches; it feels like a time tunnel. Slide open the wooden door, and you are engulfed by the fragrance of Taiwan cypress, which pervades the entire space from floor to roof. “These glass panes with ripple patterns are hard to come by now.” The glass sliding doors on the wooden cupboards preserve the charm of half a century ago.
“All of these window frames are made of Taiwan cypress.” The builders at the time had already mastered the mechanism of Western-style sash windows; the window panes can be slid vertically to any height. “Nowadays it’s very difficult to find woodworkers who are skilled in traditional joinery techniques.” They did eventually enlist the services of old masters from Changhua and Chiayi, who slowly and carefully restored the windows by traditional means.
“Without good reason, we will never remove what we’re able to keep.” The mottled look of the outer walls has been deliberately preserved, and green plants are encouraged to climb all over them. In the forecourt, the disused old well is now home to verdurous ferns that usually grow in woodland habitats. The rust-pitted anchor plates on the walls are still there, loyally guarding the old house. As for the covered walkway that connects the main building and the adjacent restaurant, all of the wooden canopy has been retained except for the decayed and damaged parts.
The vast space inside Grand Courtyard is perfect for large-scale exhibitions and events.