Chiayi County Hsinkang Junior High School｜Courtyard for Food Education

“ With a cooking classroom, children can share food and cooking skills, which can enhance their relationships with each other. ”

Returning the Food Education Classroom to Hsinkang Students and Teachers

In earlier years, Hsinkang Junior High faced limited space due to a large student population, forcing the school to repurpose its original cooking classroom. As enrollment gradually declined amid nationwide demographic shifts, many campus spaces became underutilized. This challenge also presented an opportunity—the moment had arrived to return a dedicated food education classroom to Xingang’s teachers and students.

Creating Ritual and Atmosphere Through Spatial Storytelling

Following the design intervention, the team mapped out teaching needs for Xingang Junior High’s food education curriculum, dividing the space into three zones: Ingredient Discovery, Cooking, and Dining & Sharing. The Ingredient Discovery Zone, inspired by fresh markets, simulates displaying and selecting ingredients, helping students learn about origin, characteristics, seasonality, and freshness. The Dining & Sharing Zone, based on banquet culture, uses modular tables that can shift between round-table gatherings and open layouts according to teaching needs. The Cooking Zone guides students step by step—from sourcing and flavor pairing to preparation, dining rituals, and food safety—building knowledge “from farm to table,” sparking interest, and encouraging everyday application.

Across the different zones, ingredients and dishes are accompanied by signage describing food types, characteristics, dish names, and recipes. Scene changes or transitions are supported by mobile carts for safe movement, creating an immersive learning environment while encouraging teamwork and collaboration throughout the process.