Architect Lee Chien-lang unveils memoir celebrating a lifelong devotion to historic buildings

Renowned architectural scholar Li Chien-lang recently published a brand-new book, "My Architectural Pursuit Along the Way." This work not only chronicles his personal footsteps spanning half a century in the field of cultural asset research and preservation, but also deeply expresses his boundless nostalgia for bygone days, aged buildings, and the close friends who fought alongside him along the way. During a recent book launch event, Li candidly admitted that he is, at heart, a sentimental person. It is precisely this cherished regard for past emotions that has allowed him to forge deep and wondrous bonds between many people and old houses. He expressed special gratitude to the friends who have given him steadfast support throughout this journey, as well as to those old buildings that, in his eyes, seem to possess life and act like dear friends. These people and objects have intertwined to form the rich and splendid scenery of his life.

Looking back at Li Chien-lang's academic and practical career spanning five decades, it can be said to be a microcosm of Taiwan's modern architectural history and cultural asset preservation movement. As one of Taiwan's most representative architectural scholars, his footprints extend to every corner of Taiwan. From Western-style buildings of the Japanese colonial period and traditional Southern Min sanheyuan courtyard houses to major temples and modern engineering works, Li has not only personally measured these historical ruins with his feet, but has also meticulously recorded architectural styles that were on the verge of vanishing or being forgotten through delicate drawings and rigorous textual research. Many of his hand-drawn architectural cutaway views and perspective drawings are not only precious works of art, but also indispensable academic literature for Taiwanese architectural research. In this new book, these architectural structures that have weathered the trials of time are no longer merely cold bricks, tiles, wood, and stone; under his pen, they are imbued with warmth and stories, becoming bridges for dialogue with contemporary readers.

Li Chien-lang's contributions to the field of cultural asset preservation have long transcended pure academic research, exerting a profound impact on Taiwan's societal cultural identity. Over the past few decades, Taiwan has experienced rapid economic development and urban renewal, placing many precious historical districts and old buildings at risk of demolition. Li has walked alongside numerous cultural workers, scholars, and local historical enthusiasts, speaking out and running about through various channels, and even directly participating in historic site restoration and review work, thereby preserving countless precious historical memories for Taiwan. In his new book, he particularly emphasizes the "bonds between people and old houses," which precisely points to the core value of cultural asset preservation—buildings are precious not only because of their architectural craftsmanship or aesthetic value, but also because they carry the living emotions and collective memories of countless generations of people.

"My Architectural Pursuit Along the Way" is not only a personal memoir, but also a dialogue spanning across time and space. In the book, Li portrays with sincere strokes multiple good friends who shared a mutual understanding with him along the path of architectural research. These friends include scholars, artists, photographers, and grassroots master craftsmen, each of whom played a pivotal role in Taiwan's cultural asset jigsaw puzzle. Through his writing, Li pays tribute to these movers and shakers both on and off the stage, while also displaying his humble scholarly demeanor. He believes that cultural asset preservation can by no means be achieved by the effort of a single person alone; rather, it requires generational succession and concerted effort. This spirit of collective pursuit and guardianship is precisely the most touching and deeply inspiring core of this book.

Looking toward the future, Taiwan's cultural asset preservation is facing new challenges and turning points. With society's emphasis on sustainable development and local revitalization, the revitalization and reuse of old buildings have become a prominent trend, moving beyond passive preservation to active integration into modern life. Li's perseverance and cultivation over half a century have laid a solid foundation for Taiwan's cultural assets and pointed the way for younger generations of scholars and practitioners. The publication of this new book is not only a summary of the achievements of the past fifty years, but also a gentle reminder, calling on the general public, amidst their hurried footsteps, to occasionally pause, look back at those historical old houses quietly standing by the roadside, and listen to them recount the stories of the past.