Kaohsiung Municipal DAYI Junior high School｜LIGHT ART-BOX

“Theater is a verb before it is a noun, an act before it is a place.”

— Martha Graham

Dayi Junior High School’s existing rhythm classroom serves multiple purposes, functioning as the venue for schoolwide performing arts classes, the hip-hop club, and sectional rehearsals for the wind ensemble. However, the overlap of different courses resulted in cluttered storage and insufficient functionality, limiting the flexibility of instructional use. To address these issues, the school initiated a renovation to create a performing arts classroom capable of supporting dance, drama, wind ensemble practice, and other diverse needs.

Reshaping the Spatial Framework to Create a Versatile Performing Arts Environment

Starting from observations of curriculum patterns and user behavior, the design team reorganized the spatial order with a focus on lighting and façade planning. Given the importance of lighting configurations in performing arts, the space adopts uniform ambient lighting supplemented by spotlights to flexibly accommodate dance, theater, and music activities. The walls incorporate built-in cabinetry and wood-panel surfaces to create layered recesses that clearly define the locations of equipment such as the interactive display, piano, music stands, and seating, while subtly suggesting usage modes for different performance activities. The large mirror wall that previously disrupted wind ensemble practice is now concealed within a recessed niche and further covered by acoustic panel curtains, effectively minimizing noise and visual distractions.

Integrating Breezeway, Walls, and Ceiling to Release Creative Potential

The shared exterior façade between the renovated classroom and the adjacent ensemble room was also refined. A mirrored wall combined with cabinet storage consolidates shoe-rack functions, while the reflective surface creates a clean and cohesive visual focal point. By visually merging the breezeway with the interior, the design enhances openness and fluidity, transforming this transitional zone into an extended learning environment and unlocking greater creative possibilities for future performing arts instruction.