A historical study on the development of RC building construction adapting to the climate in Taiwan

The construction of reinforced concrete was introduced to Asia about one century ago. There were lots of considerations on RC construction for adapting to its hot and wet climate when the Japanese architects visited Taiwan in colonial time. This paper is to make clear the considerations at that time about how to face the climate of Taiwan and develop the regional construction methods that were different from other regions of East Asia through the analysis of historical buildings and literature. This paper is going to clarify three subjects. The first one is how the concept of the material as RC became to be used in general construction in Taiwan. The second one is how the influence of traditional building and Japanese architects/engineers was. The third one is what kind of construction methods concerning roofs, walls and floors thought out in 1930s became ordinary construction methods in Taiwan and the reason why.