"Architecture is a container of space, while archives are containers of time."
Recently visited the National Archives located in Linkou, this new landmark that officially opened at the end of 2025, completely overturning my imagination of a "records room" being dull and dreary. As someone fascinated by train tracks and the rings of old houses, I sensed another form of "layering" here.
🏗️ Architectural Design: Hiding the Building in the Forest
This building was designed by Jiudian United Architects, with a very warm design concept. You will notice the exterior walls use varying layers of brick-red baked glass, echoing the red soil layers of the Linkou Plateau.
Layered Memories: The building mass extends upward from the bottom, symbolizing that national memory accumulates layer by layer over time.
Openness and Transparency: The top uses extensive glass curtains, symbolizing the openness and transparency of information. My favorite is the Forest Canopy Plaza on the second floor, where standing there allows a view of the surrounding preserved native forest, making it feel as if the building is truly "hidden in the forest," with a sense of peaceful coexistence with nature.
In the second-floor lobby of the National Archives, you absolutely won't miss this visually striking art installation.
As the ancient saying goes: "Using the past as a mirror, one can understand rise and fall." This work uses 1,700 mirrored units to symbolize the historical archives collected by the National Archives, constructing a giant bronze mirror representing memory and reflection. Viewers see their current reflection through the mirrors, and when turning to read the archives, they can look back at national memory. Through interaction with the work, it guides viewers to contemplate the future while gazing at history, embodying the true meaning of historical reflection.
This work presents a massive sphere suspended in space. Each copper piece is like a page from the archives or a person's memory. The artist reassembled these fragments into a giant vortex of time and space, symbolizing the layering and flow of Taiwan's history.
Before entering the exhibition hall, you pass through a long corridor where two walls play "The Direction of Time," using the imagery of a train moving forward combined with the perspective from inside the train. Besides the character depictions on the train and the scenery outside the windows, each tunnel passed represents the appearance of Taiwan advancing 10 years—very interesting and relatable. Highly recommended to stop and watch carefully.
We joined a guided tour this time, using audio guide headsets throughout. Professional staff provided in-depth explanations of installation art, architectural design concepts, permanent exhibitions, and special exhibitions, with a total duration of about one hour. You can leave midway if needed. The guide's explanations were concise and engaging—definitely worth spending some time listening to the tour!!
The exhibition traces from "Relocation to Taiwan" and "U.S. Aid" after 1945 all the way to "Democratization." It displays over 400 authentic archives, where you can see yellowed official documents, old maps, and even early everyday objects.
The National Archives is not just an institution for storing documents; through its architectural design and modern exhibition methods, it makes originally rigid history approachable. If you're in the Linkou area or interested in Taiwan's development trajectory, this is a high-quality venue to avoid crowds and quietly absorb knowledge.
Address: No. 1, Danganguan Rd., Linkou Dist., New Taipei City
Hours: Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00 (Closed Sun & public holidays)
Admission: Free
MRT: Airport MRT A9 Linkou Station, about 15-min walk or take a taxi.
Bus: Get off at "Linkou Transfer Station," about 5–8 min walk.
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