Tainan Municipal Shi-Gang Junior High School｜The Library Beneath the Banyan Tree

The audiovisual classroom at Sigang Junior High School had been idle for years; outdated equipment, fixed tiered seating, and plastic chairs limited the ways the space could be used. The school hoped to transform it into a library to increase its utilization and to turn it into a bright, spacious haven where children could sit down and truly enjoy reading.

To achieve this, the design team set out to create an open and comfortable reading environment. The original stepped flooring, seating, ceiling system, and metal grilles were removed, and the space was redefined with a white base tone paired with light wood elements to enhance brightness and openness. Most importantly, the wall connecting the interior and exterior was opened up to draw in sunlight and greenery. What was once a neglected corner of campus has now become a refreshing outdoor reading area, where the banyan tree that has stood for more than fifty years can accompany every Sigang child as they read and connect with nature.