The rebirth of Changyuan Hospital is the culmination of seven years of dedicated effort by our team. The journey began with X-Basic Planning’s initial cultural research and curatorial development. General-Basic and Wei-Fong Construction then spent over five years laying the physical foundation, brick by brick. Simple-Basic Design followed with a two-year process of integrating modern functionality with the building’s historical aesthetic. During the restoration, Siao Ben Aiyu was the first to occupy the space, breathing life into the historic building. Now, this auspicious occasion and its recent selection as one of the Top 100 Cultural Bases from the Ministry of Culture affirms the team’s long and dedicated journey.

Now a local cultural center, the Changyuan Hospital – Lukang Historic Image Museum combines Japanese-Western tea ceremonies, themed exhibitions, and immersive experiences like light sculpture. It also features an Old House Hospital service base, providing diverse solutions for old buildings to operate sustainably and reignite the connection between historical sites and contemporary life.

A Warm Gathering Under the Banyan Tree

The grand and solemn atmosphere of the 2023 restoration completion ceremony remains vivid in our memories. This opening tea party, however, had a more relaxed and lively feel. We invited our neighbors from Minzu Road to gather under the banyan tree, witness the rebirth of Changyuan Hospital, and connect with the renewed museum space. Though the seating was simple, the owner’s sincerity was evident as he placed name tags early in the morning. The ceremony, though modest, was full of ritual detail. From the tributes and tea sets at the check-in to the placement of seats and the flow of the attendees, every element was carefully considered to ensure that guests felt X-Basic Planning’s heartfelt gratitude.

As the morning sun grew warmer, guests began to arrive. Among them were the Hsu family and friends, all integral to the house’s renewal; descendants of the Siao Ben family, who collaborated on the restoration; representatives from supportive public sector and cultural institutions; and our local partners. Without the passion and dedication of each of these groups, the rebirth of Changyuan Hospital would not have been so successful.

Honorary Director Dr. Hsu Cheng-yuan began with a speech, emotionally recalling the start of his collaboration with the team in 2018. He noted that this year marks the 100th anniversary of Changyuan Hospital’s opening, making the new identity of the Changyuan Hospital – Lukang Historic Image Museum all the more significant. He described it as the successful “harvest” of a seven-year collaboration with the team.

He thanked all present for their support, emphasizing that the value of preserving old houses extends beyond history and architecture. It requires that people discover their vitality in everyday life. Looking ahead, we hope to continue this spirit of interpretation, exploring diverse themes in the humanities, photography, music, and art. In partnership with Siao Ben Aiyu and X-Basic Planning, we will continuously adapt our business model to embrace new trends.

Changhua County Magistrate Wang Hui-mei shared that she was deeply moved by the everyday local history captured in photographer Hsu Tsang-tse’s early works. This inspired her to years of dedication preserving precious historical materials. She noted that Dr. Hsu Cheng-yuan seems to have inherited his father’s sense of mission and that his tireless efforts to preserve the old house are truly admirable. In the future, Changyuan Hospital is poised to offer many more visitors deeper opportunities to observe and experience the historic port of Lukang.

Director Hsiao Ding-xiong of X-Basic Planning affirmed that throughout the restoration, the team adhered to museum-grade standards to ensure Changyuan Hospital could “re-enter the flow of life” with integrity. This involved meticulously sorting and preserving every historical artifact. Even to replace a pillar, the team chose to work at night to ensure Grandma Hsu could continue her daily ancestor worship rituals without interruption.

The team’s goal was not a “100% restoration” to a static, pristine state. What the building truly needs is not a fleeting moment of glory, but long-term, sustainable maintenance. This profound understanding of the life of an old house stems from a commitment to thoughtful restoration. While preserving the patina of age, we also left room for future adaptation, allowing the building to continually renew itself and connect with the public in a contemporary context.

The tea party was moving and more than a ribbon-cutting ceremony. In addition to speeches by Honorary Director Dr. Hsu Cheng-yuan, X-Basic Planning Director Hsiao Ding-xiong, Changhua County Magistrate Wang Hui-mei, and Lukang Township Mayor Hsu Chih-hung, we were delighted to see 95-year-old Grandma Hsu Shih Hsiu-hsiang take the stage. With a swift cut of the ribbon, she officially inaugurated the Changyuan Hospital – Lukang Historic Image Museum.

Grandma Hsu has long been the steadfast guardian of this old house. Even during the restoration, she diligently maintained the home and performed daily ancestor worship rituals. Her presence not only preserves the warmth of the old house but also embodies the most authentic emotional connection between the Hsu family and Changyuan Hospital. This warm, living memory is the very soul of Changyuan Hospital, the central value that our team aimed to preserve for the museum from the earliest stages of the project.

A Century of Light, A Celebratory Moment

Following the tea party, Honorary Director Dr. Hsu Cheng-yuan, along with Director Hsiao Ding-xiong and Director Tsai Yu-hsuan of the Interdisciplinary Planning Department from X-Basic Planning, led guests on a tour. From the first-floor permanent exhibition area, which recreates Dr. Hsu’s consultation room, to the second-floor Light Sculpture Exhibition Room, a collaboration with a light and shadow team, every space in the building exuded a unique elegance. The Japanese-Western Tea Ceremony, featuring a selection from the Boven Magazine Library, infused every corner of this century-old house with the potential for new life.

The rich spatial complexity of Changyuan Hospital stems from its historical role as a multi-functional hub. It has served as a clinic, residence, and social gathering place. However, the subtle divisions between these functions presented a significant challenge for operational planning, particularly in designing the restaurant’s service flow and configuring its facilities. In response, our team insisted on minimal decoration and a light touch in showcasing the restoration, allowing the building’s own texture and history to lead the conversation. On a curatorial level, we focused on deeply integrating family history, architectural history, and local development, re-examining these threads from a contemporary perspective to let the building speak for itself.

The new significance of this century-old clinic now extends beyond the preservation of a single building or the simple continuation of local history. During the restoration, the team extensively used materials from traditional mortise-and-tenon suppliers and the San-Hô Tile Kiln to meticulously restore the old house’s original appearance. We also invited the esteemed “Fame Culture” to oversee the conservation of the museum’s precious murals. This cross-disciplinary collaboration makes Changyuan Hospital more than just a case study in old house revitalization; it is a platform that brings together diverse strengths and industry. Through the unique Siao Ben model, we are promoting the sustainable operation of historic restorations and cultural heritage. The Old House Hospital on the second floor serves as a tangible expression of this concept.

Transformed over seven years of dedicated effort, Changyuan Hospital – Lukang Historic Image Museum is not only a historical space meticulously restored by the Siao Ben team but also a starting point for community cohesion. It will become the core operational space, where we put our philosophy into practice. We hope this museum will become a model and a hub for old house renewal, a place where restoration techniques, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and contemporary creativity converge to find sustainable paths for other old houses awaiting transformation.

Next time you visit Lukang, consider a detour to Changyuan Hospital and Ancient Town. Wander through a space shaped by a cross-era aesthetic and experience the new light that a century-old building can radiate.

▌ Changyuan Hospital – Lukang Historic Image Museum

Opening Hours | 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM (Closed on Mondays; open on weekends and national holidays)
Venue Address | No. 194, Zhongshan Road, Lukang Township, Changhua County
Facebook Page｜Changyuan Hospital – Lukang Historic Image Museum
Instagram｜@changyuan_1925

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Organizers｜General-Basic Co., Ltd., Wei-Fong Construction Co., Ltd., Simple-Basic Interior Design Co., Ltd., V-Tai Engineering Co., Ltd., Siao Ben Aiyu Co., Ltd., X-Basic Planning Co., Ltd., Honorary Director Dr. Hsu Cheng-yuan
Collaborating Partners｜Ming Hsiang Cultural Enterprise Co., Ltd., Zhuoshui River Energy Creation Co., Ltd., You Call It She Creates It Integrated Design Co., Ltd., Kuang I Co., Ltd., Ri Mu Design ShiRu. Design, This Text Creation Studio, Cheng Yu Chen Bakery, Pa Yueh Architectural Firm, Dimension Plus Digital Imaging Studio, Yuanchien Image Studio, Japanese-Style Wagashi Kashiya, Daily・Sweet・Thing・Matters
Event Planning | Future Sound Co., Ltd.
Event Host｜Han Ching-ying
Event Photography｜HOU Images Studio・Sandwich’s Cinema Production