Former Shinchiku Prefecture Library, Historic building in East District, Taiwan.
The Former Shinchiku Prefecture Library is a public building from the Japanese colonial period located in the East District of Hsinchu, Taiwan. Its facade features large arched windows and combines Japanese and Western architectural elements in a way that was common for official buildings of its time.
The building was completed in 1925, built in anticipation of a visit by Japan's Crown Prince. Architect Takeo Ujiki was responsible for its design, giving it the formal character expected of a colonial public building.
The building sits on Cultural Street, a stretch that still connects old public buildings and gives a sense of how civic life was organized in colonial-era Hsinchu. Inside, the reading rooms retain their original wooden fittings, giving visitors a direct feel for how the space once functioned day to day.
The building is easy to reach on foot and sits near other old public buildings in the East District, making it a good stop on a walk through the area. Inside, there are stairs and different floor levels, so comfortable shoes are a practical choice.
Although it was built for a royal occasion, the building then served for decades as an everyday public library for the people of Hsinchu. This double life, first as a formal showcase and then as a working reading room, can be read in the worn wooden surfaces still visible inside.
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