Kaohsiung City GuangWu Primary School｜Planting "Object", "Value" of Object

“ Habits are the invisible architecture of daily life.”

— Gretchen Rubin

Transforming Space Through Materiality to Create a New Perspective on “Valued Things”

A recycling station is often associated with disorder, unpleasant odors, and an overall reluctance to enter unless absolutely necessary. This project seeks to overturn such entrenched impressions of waste and recycling facilities. As the first recycling and waste collection site renovated through the Learning through "Design Movement on Campus" program, Guangwu Elementary School’s upgrade replaces the old, dark, and rigid brick enclosures with a more transparent and open configuration. Through the use of bright, airy materials and the introduction of diverse green plantings, the once dim and enclosed zone is transformed into a soft, refreshing, and natural pocket of the campus.

A clearly organized spatial plan allows all types of recyclable materials to be sorted and stored neatly, while additional zones accommodate tool storage and cleaning functions. The redesigned environment not only provides teachers and students with a recycling and waste collection site imbued with aesthetic clarity and a sense of ritual, but also supports the broader goals of circular use, resource regeneration, and the rebirth of value within everyday objects.