New Taipei City Xindian Elementary School｜Nature Guesthouse

The covered walkway is one of the essential circulation routes at Xindian Elementary School. However, tangled utility lines and corroded structural elements disrupt the natural scenery, while a concrete barrier separating students from the planting beds prevents them from getting close to the greenery they long to explore.

The design team adopted materials commonly used in greenhouses as key elements in this renovation. In addition to reorganizing and eliminating all exposed utility lines, natural light is now guided into the walkway, allowing users to experience the shifting patterns of light and the surrounding natural environment as they move through the space. In response to sunlight conditions, the original planting bed was transformed into an ecological garden, integrating existing plants with newly introduced ferns and mosquito-repelling species—balancing aesthetics, function, and ecological education.

Through a subtractive design approach, the long-standing concrete divider between the walkway and garden was removed, reconstructing a shared environment where teachers and students coexist with nature. Children can now step directly into the garden and truly experience the joy of being close to the natural world.