Right now, we’re standing at 31 Kangding Road, Alley 173. Take a look up at the highest wooden window up there. It’s shape is a very unique 3 by 3 glass formation. Now lower your head and take a look at the two diamond shapes on the floor, made from a paving process called “Scrub Pebble”. It’s okay, you can touch them if you want. Feel the texture of the material.

Many people in Taiwan know of several building techniques that employ pebbles, such as Wash Pebble, Scrub Pebble, and Whet Pebble, but few know the difference. The Wash Pebble process involves mixing pebbles with cement, laying it out and then rinsing the mixture with water. If, instead of rinsing with water, a sponge is used to remove imperfections from the pavement, then the process becomes Scrub Pebble. Finally, if a tool is used to smooth out the cemented pebble, then that process is Whet pebble.

Take a look at the door threshold of number 31, which was created using the Whet Pebble process. If you want to see more examples of Whet Pebble, the Starbucks Wan-Hua Store has an amazingly elaborate floor paved using the retro style.

Turn around and take a look at the red brick wall. Upon further examination you will find that the wall is constructed with bricks of two differing thicknesses. The flatter and thicker bricks are called Minnan bricks. The thicker ones are more common regular bricks. Furthermore, there are two red brick pillars that partition the main entrance of the building into three sections. The two columns not only act as load-bearing supports, but they are also remnants of their time. Originally, the pillars were constructed using a wooden core. However, during renovation the centers have been replaced with black iron. This way, the building is given even more reinforcement without sacrificing its historical integrity and look.