On the Building Process of the Chingliao Holy Cross Church

• Main Authors: Chang-Chih Hsu, 徐昌志
• Other Authors: 王俊雄
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/59500857845473995008

博士 === 淡江大學 === 土木工程學系博士班 === 102 === The dissertation is using Chingliao Holy Cross Church as a subject of the research. The church was started in 1955 by Franciscan missionary Father Eric Jansen’s request. He invited German architect Gottfried Bohm to design the church (remotely). It was constructed by a local team and was completed in 1960. By reviewing the detail of how this Catholic church had been built in post World War II in the rural of Taiwan, from planning, designing, translating and construction, we would like to understand the detail of how this modern Church was transplanted in Taiwan. Additionally, to understand the substance of Taiwan’s architecture modernity. This research is using the method of thick description. It covers textualized with reading material collected in National Taiwan Museum such as architectural drawing, pictures, and the Chingliao Holy Cross Mission Journal. Field search includes visits to the building, interviews with the architect Gottfried Bohm, priests in the church, and local residents. It also includes a trip to Europe to visit to other Bohm designs. Comb through the details and historical background of post World War II Taiwan to verify facts and reestablish and learn the process of building that was used. There are two major findings in this research, Finding why and how the exact process of the construction of Chingliao Holy Cross Church. By reestablishing the detail and certain circumstances of the construction, we can view a village recovery from post World War II forward. We can also review how the Catholic religion developed in Taiwan. Accepting the designing invitation from an old friend living far away, Architect Gottfried Bohm had tried a new approach that is coherent with the Modern church design trends in Europe. It was an important moment in Bohm’s design. It had a significant meaning for Catholics’ religious development in Taiwan. From design to the completion, the construction of this church marked a special milestone in the history of cooperation with different countries and cultures in Taiwan. Father Jansen led the Taiwan Aluminum Corp, Dr. ING. Ekin Y.C. Cheng, Architect Hsu and Architect Chia-chin Yang, and local construction teams to take the challenges. The whole construction took four years to complete. There were obstacles from the environment, geography, weather, and limitations of knowledge know how. And, there were negations and compromises between the designer and the building team. The adaption of each other’s ideas to overcome the various challenges make this original German designed modern church able to thrive and stand out in Taiwan. What we see is the final results from the many struggles. This research trying to use the thick description to interpret the substance of Taiwan Architecture Modernity – a good example like this, the shifting and influence each other’s between three parties, the diocese ( administrative priest), the designer and the construction team created the opportunity of moving.