Chasing the Dream of Modernist Architecture in Taiwan ǀ Deep Current | EP5 (5/8)

Taipei’s Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and the National Palace Museum are among the city’s most striking landmarks. However, the history behind their development is a complex intersection of art and politics. In this episode of "Deep Current," explore the challenges, motivations, and inspirations of the architect behind some of Taipei’s most distinctive structures.

Trained at Harvard and deeply influenced by the architectural style of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Wang Da-hong designed several of Taipei’s most traditionally inspired landmarks. However, his career was marked by struggles between the political and cultural traditions of his time and his modernist architectural vision. Through interviews with experts, family, and friends, gain a deeper appreciation for this remarkable architect who left a lasting impact on Taiwan’s visual landscape.

In this episode, the "Deep Current" team interviews some of Wang Da-hong’s contemporaries and visually analyzes several of his key works. His true architectural style is most evident in his own home — an homage to Eastern aesthetics through the lens of Western architectural principles. Elements of this style also influenced his designs for the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and the National Palace Museum. However, as the team’s analysis reveals, his original visions were never fully realized.

Take a journey into the mind and life of a visionary architect constrained by the attitudes of his era in this episode of "Deep Current."

"Deep Current: Architecture of Taiwan" is an eight-episode docuseries tracing the evolution of Taiwanese architecture from the 17th to the 20th century. Taiwan’s architectural story is a fascinating fusion of history and global influences, resulting in a visual landscape unlike any other. Experience Taiwan’s unique architectural journey through its most iconic landmarks.

Chapters:
00:00 Deep Current: The Vanity of the World, the Soul Savior
01:15 Wang Da-hong’s Architectural Story
02:08 Wang Da-hong and I.M. Pei Were Influenced by Mies van der Rohe
03:04 Wang Da-hong Designed His House in Taipei in the Style of Mies
07:07 Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Design and Construction Techniques
12:20 Designing the Palace Museum
15:15 Lu Yu-chun an Architect Influenced by Le Corbusier
17:39 C.Y. Lee on the Palace Museum Design Competition
19:36 Discovering Wang Da-hong’s True Architectural Style
21:28 The Struggle of Designing Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
25:30 The Conflicting Styles of Taiwan’s Architects
28:55 End Credits

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