Shinfu-cho Cultural Market

The Shinfu-cho Food Retail Market was completed in 1935, a public market built in the later period of Japanese rule. The buildings within the market incorporated various construction materials from that era. The flat roof of the horseshoe-shaped main market building was supported by reinforced concrete beams, and its walls were constructed with reinforced brick. Additionally, ancillary buildings included wooden Japanese-style dormitories and brick public restrooms. The presence of public restrooms also symbolized the market's modernization process at the time, though unfortunately, they were not fully preserved over time. In 1930, the Taihoku Prefecture Government promulgated the "Food Retail Market Regulations." Based on hygiene considerations, these regulations provided detailed specifications for the structure and spatial layout of market buildings. Against this backdrop, the "Shinfu Food Retail Market" was completed; other markets built during the same period, such as the Taihei-cho Food Retail Market (1938, now defunct), the Saiwai-cho Food Retail Market (1938, now 'Xingan Market'), and the Irefune-cho Food Retail Market (1938, now 'Zhixing Market'), have all been rebuilt or abolished. This makes the Shinfu Market a valuable example among public market buildings from the Japanese colonial era, showcasing new hygiene standards and architectural styles. When the Shinfu Market was built, the site area was approximately 506 pyeong, and the building area was approximately 199 pyeong. The market site was surrounded by a red brick wall approximately 160 cm high. The walls of the market's main hall were reinforced brick construction, and the exterior walls featured refined horizontal decorative lines made of washed aggregate finish. Each entrance was topped with a canopy, and the roof was cast with concrete, supported by reinforced concrete beams. The overall architectural style was simple, with minimal decoration, and possessed strong functionality. For example, its horseshoe-shaped layout, which is quite rare among public markets across Taiwan, not only created a smooth shopping flow but also, with its unique central atrium, met the market's internal ventilation and lighting needs. (Source: Shinfu-cho Cultural Market website)