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Tobacco and Alcohol Monopoly Bureau
The current Bureau of Monopolies was formerly known as the Public Monopoly Bureau, established by the Japanese colonial government's Governor-General's Office in Taiwan in 1901. The building was initially constructed in 1913, with the two wings built first, and the central tower completed only in 1922, becoming an important landmark in Taipei. At that time, the Japanese established the Bureau of Monopolies to control essential daily necessities such as opium, salt, camphor, tobacco, alcohol, matches, measurement units, and petroleum. The Bureau was controlled by the colonial government, which held the power to control the production and distribution of these goods, and its revenue was the main source of income for the Governor-General's Office. After the war, it was taken over by the Nationalist government and renamed as the Taiwan Provincial Tobacco and Alcohol Monopoly Bureau.
The building of the Bureau of Monopolies is quite attractive, with a sense of mystery. Although it is not as grand as the Presidential Office Building, it is not as simple and practical as other government buildings. Some say the architectural style is Baroque, while others believe it is a Renaissance work, which has sparked discussions in the fields of architecture and literature. In general, it should be classified as a building from the late Renaissance period in Europe. The Ministry of the Interior designated it as a national cultural heritage on June 10, 1998.
The original building of the Bureau of Monopolies was constructed in 1913, and it is an early building from the Japanese colonial period. It was designed and constructed by the Office of Construction of the Governor-General's Office. At that time, the chief designer was Mori Yamazou, an engineer of the Office of Construction of the Governor-General's Office in Taiwan. Because it was so similar to the design of the Presidential Office Building, the construction data was classified as confidential.
The building of the Bureau of Monopolies was initially constructed with two wings. The walls were made of reinforced concrete and brick, and the building had three floors above ground. The central tower had six floors and was completed in 1922. The exterior walls had horizontal bands (Band) that wrapped around, creating a striped pattern of red and white. These bands combined with brick arches and keystone (Key Stone) to form a unified whole. The front features a semi-circular gable, and the entrance hall has a spherical dome as a distinctive architectural feature.
Above the central entrance, there is an emblem pattern, with a central oval protrusion and surrounding spiral patterns. This is a typical Renaissance emblem pattern, and it is very eye-catching. The entrance porch is supported by three-dimensional decorative columns and is covered with a classical dome. The base is not elevated, which subtly reduces the original sense of authority, while at the same time expressing a sense of approachability. On the four towers located on the two wings, there are bull's eye windows, which serve to enhance the lighting, and also to decorate the gable part of the towers.
The building has a symmetrical L-shaped floor plan. After entering, there are spiral staircases on both sides of the entrance, and a central staircase goes up to the second floor, where it branches left and right. Looking around, the entire glass window is illuminated by sunlight, and the handrail is made of double gourds in wood, which gives a sense of stability and solidity. To go down to the first floor, one must go up to the second floor and then turn around to descend. The handrail is in the shape of a Chinese auspicious pattern, giving a sense of stability and solidity. The columns beside the stairs are wide at the bottom and slightly narrow at the top, with grape leaves and fruits on the top edge. The corridors on each floor are very spacious. The window frames are wooden double-hinged square windows, and the third-floor square windows have an additional half-circle fixed small window. Between each window, there is an archway, and standing in the middle, one feels very comfortable. Each floor is about three meters high, with good ventilation. The first-floor lobby is one and a half floors high and has a fan-shaped design, similar to the grand hall of a European castle, now used as an information desk and reception room. In the center of the inner courtyard, there is a large banyan tree, which brings life to the entire courtyard and demonstrates the beauty of the building.
Source: Taipei City's Cultural Heritage Tour
The building of the Bureau of Monopolies is quite attractive, with a sense of mystery. Although it is not as grand as the Presidential Office Building, it is not as simple and practical as other government buildings. Some say the architectural style is Baroque, while others believe it is a Renaissance work, which has sparked discussions in the fields of architecture and literature. In general, it should be classified as a building from the late Renaissance period in Europe. The Ministry of the Interior designated it as a national cultural heritage on June 10, 1998.
The original building of the Bureau of Monopolies was constructed in 1913, and it is an early building from the Japanese colonial period. It was designed and constructed by the Office of Construction of the Governor-General's Office. At that time, the chief designer was Mori Yamazou, an engineer of the Office of Construction of the Governor-General's Office in Taiwan. Because it was so similar to the design of the Presidential Office Building, the construction data was classified as confidential.
The building of the Bureau of Monopolies was initially constructed with two wings. The walls were made of reinforced concrete and brick, and the building had three floors above ground. The central tower had six floors and was completed in 1922. The exterior walls had horizontal bands (Band) that wrapped around, creating a striped pattern of red and white. These bands combined with brick arches and keystone (Key Stone) to form a unified whole. The front features a semi-circular gable, and the entrance hall has a spherical dome as a distinctive architectural feature.
Above the central entrance, there is an emblem pattern, with a central oval protrusion and surrounding spiral patterns. This is a typical Renaissance emblem pattern, and it is very eye-catching. The entrance porch is supported by three-dimensional decorative columns and is covered with a classical dome. The base is not elevated, which subtly reduces the original sense of authority, while at the same time expressing a sense of approachability. On the four towers located on the two wings, there are bull's eye windows, which serve to enhance the lighting, and also to decorate the gable part of the towers.
The building has a symmetrical L-shaped floor plan. After entering, there are spiral staircases on both sides of the entrance, and a central staircase goes up to the second floor, where it branches left and right. Looking around, the entire glass window is illuminated by sunlight, and the handrail is made of double gourds in wood, which gives a sense of stability and solidity. To go down to the first floor, one must go up to the second floor and then turn around to descend. The handrail is in the shape of a Chinese auspicious pattern, giving a sense of stability and solidity. The columns beside the stairs are wide at the bottom and slightly narrow at the top, with grape leaves and fruits on the top edge. The corridors on each floor are very spacious. The window frames are wooden double-hinged square windows, and the third-floor square windows have an additional half-circle fixed small window. Between each window, there is an archway, and standing in the middle, one feels very comfortable. Each floor is about three meters high, with good ventilation. The first-floor lobby is one and a half floors high and has a fan-shaped design, similar to the grand hall of a European castle, now used as an information desk and reception room. In the center of the inner courtyard, there is a large banyan tree, which brings life to the entire courtyard and demonstrates the beauty of the building.
Source: Taipei City's Cultural Heritage Tour
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