Yilan’s atmosphere of yesteryear – stone houses imbued with generations of love

For reasons of topography and climate, Yilan is frequently subjected to the battering of typhoons and natural disasters, which sometimes even topple residential dwellings. Using the rocks they removed during the clearing of wild land for cultivation during the 60s and 70s, previous generations wisely build stone dwellings that were resistant to the wind, the rain, and erosion, with windows constructed out of neat rows of bricks. With a ready availability of rocks at the time, and a compact soil that was both durable and secure, this architectural style began to spread, creating a unique vista in the area. 

The well-preserved Wu family stone house that remains standing today, carries with it the responsibility of protecting the memories of the generations who came to cultivate these once wild areas. In fact, there are countless uninhabited stone houses still standing in Yilan. A senior member of the Wu family said that because times have changed, he does not feel the need to preserve these old houses. Though he belonged to a generation in which stone houses were part of life, he fully respects the life choices of the current generation.

Yilan’s atmosphere of yesteryear – stone houses imbued with generations of love 

URL: https://www.peopo.org/news/281947

(以下是中文對照)

宜蘭古色香，石頭厝x世代情

照片

宜蘭因為地理氣候原因，時常飽受颱風及天災的侵襲，連住家建築都傾倒一片。在民國五、六O年間，先人運用智慧，將開墾過程移除的石頭，拿來建造能夠防風防雨防侵蝕的石頭厝，窗戶則使用磚頭整齊排列。當時的石材容易取得，而且質地堅硬又耐用牢固，於是這樣的建築風貌漸漸傳開，也形成了社區裡的獨特景象。

現今依然保存良好的吳家石頭厝，承載著先人開墾守護家園的記憶。其實在宜蘭還有很多，已經無人居住只剩下空屋的石頭厝。但吳家阿公表示，因應時代的變遷他不會去強求這些屋子必須留下，因為石頭厝是他們的生活，所以也尊重下一代選擇生活的方式。