The Kaohsiung Branch of the Bank of Taiwan was completed in 1949 as one of the branches the Nationalist Government had established by reorganizing the Bank of Taiwan Kabushiki-gaisha. Designed by architect Chen, Yu-Bo, this building is an example of the first generation of post-war Northern Chinese Palace style architecture in Taiwan that ushered in a new trend of classic Chinese architectural designs. Despite the fact that the connotations and style of the architectural ornaments (glazed roof tiles, roof figures (walking beasts), wood imitation structures made of RC, and Hexi painting (dragon-pattern) friezes) of this branch being obviously in the style of Northern Chinese Palace design, the proportions and layout bear a striking resemblance to the original Kaohsiung City Hall, A decade passed between the completion of these two buildings, during which a post-war transfer of political power transpired. The architectural differences present in these two buildings bear witness to significant shifts and different forms of expression of nationalism in the field of architecture.
臺灣銀行高雄分行於1949年完工，乃國民政府接收日治時期的株式會社臺灣銀行全台各支店於原地改組成立之分行。該作品為戰後第一代的中國北方宮殿式建築，由陳聿波建築師設計，與鄭定邦建築師設計的台灣銀行嘉義分行(1948年)開啟了中國古典式樣新建築之先河。
台灣銀行高雄分行雖建築裝飾語彙及風格有明顯濃厚的中國北方宮殿樣式，琉璃屋瓦與走獸、RC造的仿木構、和璽彩畫風格的橫飾帶等，但其整體比例與配置與同樣在中正四路上隔著愛河相望的高雄市歷史博物館(原高雄市役所)卻幾分神似，高雄市歷史博物館為清水組的大野米次郎設計監造，於1939年完工落成之辦公廳舍，為當時日人崇尚之興亞式帝冠風格，在和洋折衷的風格裡多採用日式傳統造型的屋頂、斗拱、木鼻等語彙，為一種宣揚日本民族主義與對抗現代主義的風格，在兩棟落成相差的十年間經歷了戰後的政權轉移，而隨著原高雄市役所到臺灣銀行高雄分行的建築脈絡，承襲也見證了中華文化於建築上的改變與表現。
文／黃則維、柳青薰
圖／高雄市政府文化局