New Taipei Municipal Qingshan Elementary and Junior High School｜Qingshan Forest

"The purpose of the Boy Scout and Girl Guide Movement is to build men and women as citizens endowed with the three H's namely, Health, Happiness and Helpfulness."

— Robert Baden-Powell

Hengchun Vocational High School, located at Taiwan’s southernmost tip, is dedicated to ecological education and local tourism curricula. Its elective course “Coffee Culture Practices” enhances students’ hospitality skills and has led to award-winning performances in competitions. However, the outdoor space surrounding the school’s “Treehouse Café” internship site has long been left idle and overgrown. The school now aims to transform it into an ecological landscape garden that fosters both learning and community engagement, creating a vibrant base for environmental education and cultural memory. 

TRANSFORMING VACANT LAND INTO A LEARNING GARDEN 

The once-unused site was transformed into four eco-zones with native plants, shaded learning spaces, and pollinator habitats. Recycled local materials shaped unique garden structures, while preserved trees became outdoor classrooms—inviting open, nature-based learning. 

CO-CREATING WITH COMMUNITY 

To deepen ties between learning and local culture, the design team organized hands-on workshops in woodworking and plant care. Students co-built the garden under the guidance of Mr. Yang Zong-xun from the Leucaena Craft Center and agave artisan Ms. Wang Mei-you, embodying the “learning by doing” spirit. The resulting Green Garden Classroom is now not only a hub for ecological education at the school but also a space for cultural exchange and community co-creation—revitalizing both campus and local life.