Chiayi Yizhu Junior High School｜Living Light Studio

“ Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment. ”

Transforming the Home Economics Classroom into a Yizhu Junior High × Community Co-Learning Space

Located in southwestern Chiayi, Yizhu Junior High serves a community where many students come from farming families. Beyond academic instruction, the school actively guides students to understand their hometown and cultivate local identity. Through the course “Me and My Hometown,” students learn to prepare family recipes and explore local culture. The “Yi-Qi Social Service Club” further connects with the community, collaborating with residents to create products from regional specialties—such as aiyu jelly and mulberries—for charity fundraising. This renovation of the home economics classroom not only supports general home economics and special education courses but also expands possibilities for flexible curricula and club activities. The newly envisioned “Living Light Studio” becomes a shared space that strengthens community ties, enabling the school and local residents to enjoy learning and collaboration together.

Optimizing Circulation to Enhance Learning Efficiency

Although Yizhu Junior High’s home economics classroom is well-equipped, some devices are outdated and no longer support the diverse needs of contemporary instruction. Inefficient circulation further disrupts the teaching experience. In response, the design team reorganized functional zones, improved circulation, and ensured compliance with accessibility standards to elevate classroom usability. Window sills and whiteboard walls were transformed into additional storage and display surfaces, while new systematic storage zones help maintain an orderly environment. Technological upgrades—including document cameras and dehumidifying devices—enhance interactive teaching and improve equipment maintenance, creating a more flexible and effective learning setting.

Flexible Configuration × Local Elements to Foster an Inclusive Learning Space

To accommodate various courses and club activities, the design incorporates mobile storage carts and movable tables and chairs, allowing the classroom layout to be freely adjusted. Before lessons, carts help quickly distribute materials and tools; after class, round tables encourage students to gather, share, and engage in meaningful interaction. Local elements such as terrazzo, reclaimed wood textures, and perforated red bricks subtly enrich the space, echoing the rural character of Yizhu and creating a warm, familiar learning atmosphere. This is more than a home economics classroom—it is a co-learning and co-creation hub for the school and community. Through cooking, crafting, and hands-on learning, students strengthen their connection to local culture, transforming the educational environment and opening new possibilities for collective flourishing.