Tan Nan Elementary School (Not Open for Visits) Introduction
Tan-Nan Elementary School, established in 1951, covers an area of 0.38 hectares and is a mini school with less than 100 students. After the 921 earthquake, many buildings in Tan-Nan Village were destroyed, and Tan-Nan Elementary School was no exception. When the reconstruction team arrived in the village, local residents insisted that "the children are the hope of the tribe, and their future lies in education," prioritizing the school's reconstruction. After extensive discussions, it was unanimously decided to use the model of a traditional house as the main concept for the school's reconstruction. The most sacred space in traditional Bunun houses, the "millet granary," serves as the school's library, symbolizing a storehouse of knowledge. The first floor outside the library has several semi-outdoor platform areas that can be used for performances and ceremonies, fully integrating with community activities. The second-floor classrooms are designated for Bunun youth learning. The tall lookout tower serves as a bell tower, water tower, and flagpole. Although the campus is not large, the village sports day held at the school each year is an important community event. Running is the highlight of the sports day, requiring a retained running track, leading to the school being built in the middle of the track. The materials used include T-shaped steel plates, matte durable boards, and modern construction materials combined with traditional dark slate from the Bunun tribe, blending the school into the rural landscape. The brightly colored and uniquely designed building completely overturns the stereotype of elementary school buildings being dull and uninteresting; first-time visitors to Tan-Nan often mistakenly think that this wall-less building is a coffee shop. Tan-Nan Elementary School is a source of pride for the villagers and a beacon of hope for the tribe.
