Study on transfiguration of official residences of Japanese era and construction of traditional living space in　Taiwan (1)

Abstract

Taiwan had been under the rule of Japan until the Second World War. So many official residences were constructed based on the construction of plans same as that using in Japan. Some of them were broken down, but some are still used for houses of Taiwanese people. This study is to investigate the differences of housing style between Japan and Taiwan from the viewpoint of the comparative theory of housing. It is based on the analysis of the trans-figuration of space by extension and reconstruction of this Japanese style house and living style of Taiwanese people. Main contents are the following (1) Mostly families increase number of rooms by extension and reconstruction. The reasons are * A chair-using-style room have only single function. * Though mat (tatami) rooms have diversified functions, the number of rooms (3 or 4) are not enough for living. (2) It is the principal that KYAKUCHO (a room for reception and relaxation) being arranged in front of the access and having considerable scale. But in the case of being unfit these conditions, to keep scale takes precedence and the position of KYAKUCHO is unstable. It is also seen the trend of extending KYAKUCHO by repair or removing a sliding door. (3) Considerable scale for a bed and furniture for living is necessary at SHUGASHITU (a master bedroom). Privacy also must be kept. So, if the room satisfied these conditions cannot be acquired in the original part, extension is done in many cases. Even in the case of sufficient scale being available, a partition is changed for privacy. (4) For outside space, a front yard oriented, traditional Taiwanese organization is succeeded. Most of KITAIRI-type houses use a back yard which originally should be a main garden, as a rear garden. So, there is a clear difference in the way of thinking for outside space between Taiwan and Japan. (5) Difference and variation are seen on the arrangement of the rooms. There is a strong demand to arrange KYAKUCHO in front and to keep its scale. In the case of the construction of plans being satisfied these conditions, the position of KYAKUCHO is comparatively stabilized. However, if GASHITU (a bedroom) is arranged at the back of KYAKUCHO, inconvenience would be occurred because of the passage by the room to a lavatory etc. That is why KYAKUCHO is arranged at the center of a house in many cases. On the other hand, there are some houses arranging KYAKUCHO in front by big alteration or changing the access. This shows deep-rooted tradition.