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The former Taiwan Important Material Battalion

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The former Taiwan Important Material Authority is a historic building in Taipei City. Its registered name of historic building comes from the fact that the building was once owned by the "Taiwan Important Material Battalion" during the Japanese colonial period. After the World War II, it was liquidated and taken over. In 1953, it was allocated to the Audit Department as the office until the new audit building was completed in 1991. In 2022, it was transferred from the Audit Department to the National Taiwan Museum, and it is expected to be used as an administrative office.

History

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The historic building “former Taiwan Important Materials Authority (TIMA)” in Taipei City was in the possession of the TIMA during the Japanese colonial period. It was located at No. 68, Hua Shan Din at that time.[1] Founded in 1944, the TMIB is a semi-official organization that handles the import and export of Taiwan materials during the war, and has relevant assets in various parts of Taiwan. After World War 2, the movable and immovable properties under the jurisdiction of TIMB were taken over by the Office of the Chief Executive of Taiwan Province.[2] On November 5, 1945, the “Taiwan Provincial Trading Company” was established after liquidation and integration of Japanese assets. On February 11, 1946, it was renamed “Taiwan Provincial Trade Bureau”, which was removed in 1947.[3]: 196–197 

It has not been confirmed whether the Taiwan Provincial Trading Company had directly used it after takeover, but according to the transcript, the building was officially allocated to the Audit Department as the office in 1953[4] which used it until 1991 when the relevant personnel moved out successively after the completion of the new Audit Building. The building was gradually vacated and idled. During this period, the Audit Department proposed the "Modification Plan for the Old Building of the Audit Department on Zhongxiao East Road", but it was not approved by the Executive Yuan.[5]

In 2016, the building was reviewed and decided by the Taipei City Cultural Assets Review Committee meeting. It has no cultural heritage preservation value and has no designated registration as cultural heritage. However, in July 2016, the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act was amended. Cultural heritage value assessment[5] shall be conducted by competent authorities for any public buildings and auxiliary facilities over 50 years after completion before disposal. Later it was announced and registered as historic buildings on December 3, 2020.

The National Human Rights Committee of the Control Yuan met on September 2, 2020 and expected to use it as an office building.[6] In 2022, the building was officially transferred from the Audit Department to the National Taiwan Museum. A public hearing was held on the restoration and reuse plan on September 7, 2020. It is anticipated that the building’s office functions will be continued and it will be reused as the National Taiwan Museum’s administrative office.[7]

Architectural Features

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According to the registration announcement, the building was completed around the 1940s, presumably no later than 1944. The three-story building is located at an important street corner in the urban landscape. It is an office building type. In 1953, it was assigned to the Audit Department as the office of the central government agency. Later, modification and expansion were carried out. Currently the appearance of the facade has also changed, but the original appearance of the internal structure and compartments have remained.[8]

Reference

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  1. ^ 中央研究院人社中心GIS專題中心. "臺北舊地籍圖:建成地政事務所". 臺灣百年歷史地圖. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  2. ^ 國史館臺灣文獻館. "臺灣重要物資營團財產調查表案". 國史館臺灣文獻館典藏管理系統. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  3. ^ 薛, 月順 (2005-04-27). "陳儀主政下「臺灣省貿易局」的興衰(1945-1947)". 國史館學術集刊 (第六期): 193-223.
  4. ^ "原臺灣重要物資營團". 國家文化資產網. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  5. ^ a b "審計部及所屬111年度單位預算評估報告". 立法院. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  6. ^ "監院勘查昭和樓 研議建置人權會辦公廳舍可行性". 監察院. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  7. ^ "國立臺灣博物館「歷史建築『原臺灣重要物資營團』修復及再利用計畫」公聽會" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  8. ^ "登錄「原臺灣重要物資營團」為該市歷史建築" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-03-16.