Yilan County Tai-ton Junior High School｜sbnwayan rgyax

“ The land is the real teacher. All we need as students is mindfulness.” — Robin Wall Kimmerer

Rotation + Extension = Breaking Spatial Boundaries and Reading in Dialogue with Nature

The sunken reading zone was reoriented—“rotated” 12 degrees and “extended” outward—to dissolve the rigid boundary between interior and exterior. On the side facing the mountain, an indoor planting pool was introduced, bringing native vegetation into the library. This creates a “Mountain Whisper Library” nestled within nature, allowing readers to experience an intimate dialogue with the forest while reducing moisture impact on the book collection.

Reading, Learning, and Self-Reflection Between Raised and Sunken Planes

The library functions not only as a place for borrowing books and quiet reading, but also as a flexible venue for split-class instruction and hands-on Indigenous cultural education. Through subtle floor “elevations” and “descents,” the designers shaped a calm, cohesive reading basin within the space.

Additionally, newly added cabinetry and a beam-frame system enhance the sense of enclosure, integrate storage needs, and provide greater flexibility for various learning modes. This layered design also cultivates a sense of ritual in reading, enabling the Mountain Whisper Library to fulfill the diverse expectations of students and teachers across the campus.