New Taipei Municipal Qinxian Junior High School｜Light up ! The Golden Canteen of Youth

The school cafeteria sits in Jiufen, the coastal and humid “Golden Mountain Town.” After years of deterioration, the building’s exposed rebar, unused kitchen equipment, cold metal tables and chairs, and visually obstructive enclosed walls made the space uninviting and out of sync with students’ daily needs. The first step in the design intervention was to open the long-sealed walls, allowing the natural outdoor scenery to flow directly into the dining hall. Through reimagining the dining environment and reorganizing circulation, the design team reshaped the overall atmosphere of the space.

Drawing inspiration from the historical context of the school’s location, the team restored the old fireplace and introduced a spatial language that blends old and new, redefining the cafeteria’s role on campus. The renewed space not only serves as a place for dining but also becomes a multifunctional venue for gathering and activities, capable of fostering a sense of community. By creating a visually appealing environment that students are willing to enter on their own, the redesigned canteen has revitalized campus life, strengthened students’ sense of belonging, and emerged as a new landmark perched on the hillside—Light up! The Golden Youth Canteen.