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▲ One of the most striking features of the Sun Moon Lake Hostel is the
main circular stairway housed in a turret of its own.
tion was expected to be the dominant need at the war's end. At the National Central University, boys were swamping the Department of Architecture with more applica- tions than could be accepted. But she and another girl made the grade.
Miss Hsiu had been pointed to- ward architecture by the drawing lessons of her father. In primary
school she excelled in drawing and arithmetic, a good combination for an aspiring designer. As the middle school years came, she began learn to put her skills together.
to
Through four years of professional training, she developed her own philosophy of architecture. She de- cided to keep her style eclectic, utilizing some of the best to found in each of the many ap- proaches to building.
be
If her plans were to have a sub- sequent signature, it was the touch of old China that she liked to bring into even the most modern design. This avoids monotony and preserves art forms that are worthy of survival, she says.
First Job in 1947
Upon her graduation in 1947, she started work in the Ministry of Com- munication at Nanking. Theory was translated into the real thing. The next year she was sent to Shang hai for designing but it was a bad
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time. As 1949 came, the Revolution pushed forward and Miss Hsiu began to despair of being able to realize her. goal of postwar reconstruction.
There was much to be done on Taiwan, however, and in 1949 she received an invitation from the Taiwan Railway Administration_to become an assistant architect. The only shortcoming was the railroad system's lack of money to do much building. She drew plans for the Panchiao station, a simple, function- al building, and for the moderniza- tion of old buildings. That was suf ficient to show her ability. In three years she had the full-fledged title of architect.
In 1953 she was married to C. K. Fu, an engineer in her office. She has a son and happily combines career and home life. But to be a good mother comes first, she be- lieves, and to that end maintains home and office under the same roof. With her son in Tsai Hsing primary school, she has more than profes- sional interest in school buildings that are attractive as well as func- tional.
Change of Masters
Miss Hsiu had left the railroad post in 1955 because there was not enough opportunity to further her professional experience. She had trained herself to plan and supervise the construction of buildings, and the
railroad administration didn't have enough of such work to keep her busy.
With the help of her husband, she opened her own office.
"It was a difficult time," she recall- ed. "I did everything from the plan- ning to supervision of the small de- tails of construction. Yet that is the way to learn and I have had no re- grets.
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Her first building as an inde- pendent architect was that of the Armed Forces Nursery School.
This was especially designed for small children and has outstanding equipment for learning and play. An auditorium seating 1,500 is used at night for theatrical performances.
Classrooms and dormitory are painted in light and dark greens. There are three playgrounds and a swimming pool.
Seven years of hard work and in- creasing business have followed. Now she has her hands full. Last year she was architect for 14 projects under construction in every part of Taiwan. Twenty architects and engineers were employed in her office and in the field. Remembering her own early days, she takes young architects from the universities and helps them ail she can. Likewise with engineers specializing in construction.
No Special Favor
Not surprisingly, Miss Hsiu has three women working and learning in her office.
She says she has no desire to give special favor to Women architects. But she adds that they are careful workers.
In her view, buildings must have a distinctive appearance and an interior arrangement suited to the purposes of the occupants. Other important factors are the site, lighting, sanita- tion, heating,
heating, ventilation, security and the well-being of those who will use the structure.
For schools, this means protection of the pupil in every aspect: general health, eyesight and safety. Even the blackboard is important. It must be curved so as not to reflect light into the pupils' eyes.
Size and shape of classrooms are crucial. Rooms must be built so that students can be taught by single teacher. This involves both visual and acoustical problems.
Among Miss Hsiu's achievements are the Provincial Kaohsiung Girls'
THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER-VOLUME 19, NUMBER 4