the buddhist temple modernized/ taichung

largely skipping the high modernism of le corbusier and importing a semi fascist modernist classicism to best represent the rule of martial law, taiwan seems to have been on the margins of international architectural discourse. today with the swirls and swoops of most projects done in schools or seen on the internet, i wonder how long that will last. a protectionist policy towards foreign architects working in the country seems to keep the worst excesses at bay. although the over swirled library in taichung makes a good case for zaha in the original rather than an 'almost' copy. yet, in architecture schools and in so many new buildings a 'good taste' seems to be quite common. a pared down modernism- the kind that architects love- the kind that echoes the great masters. like the corbusier-ed version of a buddhist temple- a far cry from the red and gold glories that are dotted around the cities. instead we have a exposed concrete pavilion that remixes the plan of millowners, ahmedabad- complete with the curved toilet and separation of  structure and enclosure and the staircase that shoots out below the floating roof out of the facade- breaking the box. while the lower floor is pretty much a corbusier copy, on the second floor it looks like the need for a more conventional space has led to a cladding of wood within the concrete shell making a more warmer temple like space- with false ceiling and a wooden floor too. i doubt the architects did that. the topmost floor has learning  spaces for the monks, accessed by a garden path. in the lobby below, a painting hangs on the wall that follows the path of a person into the building with all the elements along the way representing the path to spiritual moksha. in the shop below they played 'buddham sharanam gacchcami'