12 Shops of Chen’s

The "Chen 12 Shops" building located at the intersection of Zhongxing Road and Juguang Road in Houpu, Jincheng Township, Kinmen County. Its history can be traced back to 1963 when the Chen clan converted the east wing of their ancestral hall into a row of shops, dividing it into 12 units and renting them out individually. In recent years, the building underwent a facelift as part of the "Houpu Special Characteristic Block Facade Maintenance and Guidance Implementation Plan" aimed at creating a historic district in Jincheng. The county government funded half of the project, encouraging private individuals to participate in the restoration effort. The renovation included improvements to the building's facade, activation and use of the space, and lighting design. The restoration work was carried out while preserving the ancient building techniques and aesthetics, with consideration of the surrounding area's historical context. The design analysis and planning involved analyzing and determining the best materials, the number of openings, and their proportions. Ultimately, through experimentation and discussion, the most suitable restoration method was chosen, and the construction of the building's facade and activation of its space was completed. The lighting design, consisting of a combination of linear and projection lights in four systems, namely the parapet walls, windows, shop signs, and storefronts, was implemented to harmonize with the area's ancestral hall, square, and other buildings, creating an overall aesthetic appeal and stimulating the development of the tourism industry in the region.