Theorizing colonial architecture and urbanism: building colonial modernity in Taiwan

Abstract

This paper intends to review the historical research on Taiwan's colonial architecture and urbanism during the Japanese Occupation and to theorize further our understanding of Taiwan's specificities.1 It is expected to open up a vision of world history for examining and comparing the colonial architectures and cities in the Third World. The ultimate goal is to enhance our ability to 'see' our architecture and city. I focus on the contested structural historical meanings of the colonial architecture and city and analyse their historical contexts, content, processes, challenges, consequences and effects in order to have a critical reflection upon Taiwan's colonialism. How did these meanings articulate with the social process of modernization? How did they transform and rewrite Taiwan's landscape?