On November 26th, Prof. Chao-Ching Fu, Distinguish Professor of the Department of Architecture, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) was invited to deliver a lecture on "World Heritage in Europe." Prof. Fu began his talk with an introduction to the United Nations' The Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, focusing on sustainable preservation strategies for the integrating old and new elements in world cultural heritage. The lecture also featured in-depth case studies of heritage preservation in Europe, showcasing innovative approaches in the field.

Prof. Chao-Ching Fu delivered his lecture.

In his opening remarks, Chair Prof. Sun-Yuan Hsieh, Vice President for International Affairs at NCKU, highlighted that Prof. Chao-Ching Fu was recently honored with Taiwan's prestigious "Executive Yuan Cultural Award" for lifetime achievement in the cultural sector. With over a thousand published works, Prof. Fu is widely regarded as one of the Taiwan's most representative scholars in the field of cultural heritage. Additionally, Professor Fu has long been a long-standing advocate for cultural preservation, contributing significantly to the establishment of important cultural institutions such as the National Museum of Taiwan Literature and the Tainan Art Museum.

Chair Prof. Sun-Yuan Hsieh, Vice President for International Affairs, delivered a welcome speech.

Prof. Fu emphasized that the focus of cultural heritage preservation is not on replicating objects to their original form. Instead, he advocated for a new preservation strategies that mirror the principles of medical translation, decoding the "genetic makeup" of cultural heritage. This approach involves removing outdated elements of the original cultural assets and incorporating sustainable new elements for the future, thereby creating a new form of heritage imbued with historical DNA. He highlighted that humanity's future is just as significant as its past, and the future of city holds equal importance to its history. Preservation efforts, therefore, must address the needs of future generations, integrating modern lifestyles into historical  buildings to establish meaningful connections across time.

A group photo captured 76 participants attending the lecture.

In the second half of the lecture, Prof. Fu guided the audience through notable architectural restoration projects in Europe, including the new German Bundestag in Berlin, the Danish Maritime Museum, and the reconstruction of the Great Court at the British Museum, where the old and new coexist harmoniously. These examples effectively translated theoretical concepts into vivid visual representations, leaving a profound impression on the audience. 

In his closing remarks, Prof. Fu reiterated the significant impact of innovative thinking in cultural heritage preservation on urban development. He expressed his hope that NCKU's campus and the historical city of Tainan could harness cultural heritage as a foundation to explore new spatial possibilities.

A student participated in the Q&A session.

This semester, the NCKU Office of International Affairs hosts a series of Global Perspective Lecture events from October to December 2024, featuring six thematic lectures, one intercultural communication workshop, and five German language oral practice sessions. For more information about the events, please visit the webpage at https://reurl.cc/GpyVZd