2. The Library and Its Collections The construction of the library was completed in September 1972, designed by Dr. Wang Shi-chieh’s second daughter, Wang Chiu-hwa. Ms. Wang, a renowned architect, devoted herself to designing the library and returned to Taiwan several times during its construction, consulting with Dr. Wang about the details of the building and amending the design where necessary. Dr. Wang was determined that the building be completed on time, and personally visited and inspected the building site several times. On April 21, 1981, Dr. Wang, a senior statesman of the Republic of China, former President of Academia Sinica, promoter of American Studies, and founder of the Institute of American Culture, passed away at the age of ninety. In 1982, a year after his passing, the Institute held a memorial service to honor Dr. Wang. To commemorate Dr. Wang’s contributions to our Institute, the library was named the Wang Shi-chieh Memorial Building. At the inaugural ceremony, President Chien Shi-liang of Academia Sinica and Director Chu Yen of the Institute unveiled a bronze bust sculpture in Dr. Wang’s honor. The building itself, while occupying a rather modest footprint, proved a unique exemplar of postwar Taiwanese architecture. The library’s exterior has several characteristics of modernism, such as les pilotis (the pilotis), la fenêtre-bandeau (the ribbon window), la façade libre (the free façade), minimal ornaments, form follows the function, etc. With simple means and simple building materials, the library incorporates the building itself and its natural surroundings, sunlight and rain, The first floor of the IEAS Library The first floor reading area of the IEAS Library Father and daughter: Wang Chiuhwa (left) and Wang Shi-chieh (Provided by Wang Chiu-hwa) 15 50 Years and Beyond: The History and Prospects of the Institute of European and American Studies
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