At Taiwan’s southern tip, the Hengchun Peninsula is marked by a unique tropical dry climate, diverse endemic plants, and rich cultural heritage. Hengchun Vocational High School has long promoted ecological education and local tourism. To extend this mission, the school commissioned Mingzhu Nerval Landscape to redesign its campus café courtyard into a “Botany Academy — an outdoor learning space that highlights Hengchun’s character.
Guided by the principle of “Recycle and Regeneration,” the design relied on local labor, traditional methods, and reused materials. Invasive species like Leucaena leucocephala were repurposed into shading structures, while old timber from demolished houses became framework. Local artisans contributed: woodworker Yang Chong-Hsin crafted pergolas, and weaving master Wang Mei-You reintroduced agave fiber into lanterns and workshops.
Discarded concrete blocks were re-laid with permeable paving and paired with local bricks, forming teaching platforms. This reduced external material use by 60% and cut transport costs and carbon emissions by 80%. After Typhoon Koinu, a leaning banyan tree was treated and preserved with the help of arborist Lan Shih-Hsu, creating shaded areas like the “Banyan Classroom” and “Shared Canopy Table.”
Planting design responded to microclimates:
- Sandy Zone: drought-tolerant species such as agave, crinum, pittosporum, and tournefortia.
- Waterfront Buffer: native wetland plants like mangrove, ginger lily, pandanus, and millettia.
- Understory Area: shade-loving ferns and schefflera beneath existing trees.
- Pollinator Zone: flowering vines and insect hotels to attract butterflies and bees.
Audrey Hepburn once said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” This project embodies that spirit: the garden is not only a physical space but an extension of education and culture. By linking local resources, promoting outdoor learning, and embracing sustainability, the Green Classroom has transformed unused land into a vibrant public space — a bridge between design, education, and community.
