E2 Silian (Four-in-a-Row) Building

In 1930, an additional factory building was constructed, designed by Ushijima Tsukunosuke, an engineer with the Monopoly Bureau, and built by the Ikeda Group. Originally intended as a red dew wine warehouse during the Monopoly Bureau’s winery period, the building was later used for brewing black plum wine between 1952 and 1980. Black plum wine is made by blending plum wine, green plum wine, and oolong wine. It was once a flagship product of the factory, though production was eventually relocated to the Nantou Winery and Distillery. A distinctive feature of these buildings is their interconnection. Hollow bricks were used for the walls to improve insulation, and metal trusses supported the overall structure. Ventilation was thoughtfully incorporated through grille windows at the base of the walls and monitor roof. Today, the exterior remains striking thanks to the lush growth of epiphytic climbing plants. Originally, all four buildings had equal widths. However, in 1985, to accommodate the development of Jinshan South Road, all but the northernmost building were partially demolished, resulting in the stepped appearance seen today.