In the pursuit of net-zero emissions and sustainable development in modern architecture, the answers may lie within a century-old warehouse. Located in Tanzi District, Taichung City, the "Tanzi Farmers’ Association Granary"—a city-designated historic site built during the Japanese colonial period—is not only one of the few remaining granaries in Taiwan to combine bulk and bagged storage functions, but its ability to maintain a cool interior during the scorching summer also aligns perfectly with contemporary concepts of sustainable green building.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that the most surprising aspect of the Tanzi Farmers’ Association Granary is its architectural structure and techniques. Designed with functionality as the starting point, the building features Japanese-style "sawtooth roofs" and "monitor roofs" (Taizi Lou) on the exterior, while the interior utilizes Western "king post wooden trusses" and Fujianese "column-and-tie" (chuan-dou) structures. In terms of equipment, it features a "central conveyor belt" and "slanting chutes," which were considered state-of-the-art automated facilities at the time. Furthermore, "ventilation columns" suspended from the roof trusses in each rice storage compartment allowed moisture to be expelled rapidly, functioning much like modern-day air conditioning. With its moisture-proof and rodent-proof architectural techniques, such an advanced building for its era holds high value in architectural history, art, and science.

The Taichung City Cultural Assets Protection Office completed the restoration of the Tanzi Farmers’ Association Granary in 2024, allowing its original appearance to be revealed to the public once again while passing down the architectural wisdom of predecessors. Following the completion of the restoration, its natural air-conditioning functions allow the "low carbon footprint" concept to continue. The space will be operated and revitalized by a private organization commissioned by the Farmers’ Association; combined with the surrounding green corridors, it will become the "cultural green lung" of Tanzi District. The main complex consists of three buildings, with preliminary plans for a SOHO zone, a leisure area, and a dining area, while the outdoor space is designated for hosting markets.

"Historic sites are living textbooks." The Cultural Affairs Bureau invites citizens to step into this "breathing building" to explore the cooling mysteries of its century-old wooden structure firsthand, learn about local cultural assets, and experience sustainable wisdom that transcends time at the Tanzi Farmers’ Association Granary. For more information on cultural heritage, please visit the official website of the Taichung City Cultural Assets Protection Office.