Tainan Municipal Sinhua District Sinhua Elementary School｜Harmony Box

“ Everyone deserves the opportunity to learn in an environment that respects and honors their unique abilities.”

— Temple Grandin

Tainan Xinhua Elementary School promotes inclusive education through activities such as “Inclusive Learning Day” and “Angel Buddy,” using block-building, outdoor games, and thematic learning to encourage interaction between general-education students and special-education students. However, the standardized single-room setting limited storage efficiency, resulting in an accumulation of toys and teaching materials that reduced usable space and compromised safety. Since many special-education students require additional guidance before and after lessons, the space and furniture needed to emphasize accessibility, safety, and flexibility to accommodate diverse needs.

Opening the Space: Embracing Diversity Through the “Harmony Box” Concept

Inspired by the idea of a multi-compartment treasure box, the design team planned the storage system by integrating different types of organizational methods across three classroom zones—physical activities, cooking and baking, and quiet learning. Various wall-integrated furniture pieces, such as a high table paired with a LEGO wall, child-height storage benches, and modular low tables, allow teachers to open different sections of the “box” depending on lesson type. Playful icons on each cabinet help teachers and students intuitively identify stored items, reinforcing logical thinking while adding the excitement of “unboxing.”

A Fluid Learning Environment that Encourages Natural, Unintentional Inclusion

To foster spontaneous inclusion, the design opens the classroom toward the corridor, allowing children to move freely from cushioned play mats inside the “treasure box” to the durable, eco-friendly wooden flooring and seating along the corridor. This continuous indoor–outdoor flow creates a transparent, inviting learning environment and establishes a new favorite gathering spot for “all the children” of Xinhua Elementary School.