Hualien County Rueisuei Township Rueimei Elementary School｜Swimming in the Painting

“Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves.”

From Vertical to Horizontal: Creating a Structural and Aesthetic Learning Base

With a history of 120 years, Ruimei Elementary School is committed to shaping an art-and-food-education classroom that responds to contemporary trends and evolving teaching needs.

Precision Planning to Enhance Spatial Efficiency

As a hybrid teaching space, the room required careful analysis of user behavior. The designer divided it into two parts: the right side, designated as the teaching area, merges instructional functions with exhibition needs; the left side serves non-teaching purposes, including the kitchen that supplies meals for the kindergarten, a staff rest room, and a storage room.

The corridor and classroom walls were reimagined with the concept of a “long-axis handscroll,” with redesigned window frames that draw sunlight inside while providing a direct visual link from the hallway into the classroom’s vibrant and expressive work displays. On the interior side, the window wall becomes a rotating exhibition surface for student work. Inside the classroom, a multifunctional storage cabinet supports a movable display panel for three-dimensional pieces, while the opposite wall follows a “hidden storage” concept—concealing the teacher’s work area, mobile desks and chairs, art materials, sink, and water dispenser—keeping large items organized and increasing overall efficiency.

Transforming Old Spaces to Create New Highlights

The most distinctive feature is the reinvention of an unused drainage trench that had sat idle for decades. Through the use of glass floor tiles, stainless-steel plates, and lighting, it was transformed into a thoughtful underground micro-gallery. This not only gives new value to an overlooked space but also provides Ruimei Elementary School with a unique exhibition venue that adds creativity, identity, and delight to the campus and its learning environment.