Tan-Nan Elementary School (Not open to the public for visits) Introduction
TanNan Elementary School, founded in 1951, occupies an area of 0.38 hectares and is a mini school with fewer than 100 students. After the 921 earthquake, many buildings in TanNan Village collapsed, and TanNan Elementary School was no exception. When the reconstruction team moved into the village, local residents insisted that "children are the hope of the tribe, and their future lies in education," prioritizing the rebuilding of the school. After thorough discussions, it was unanimously decided to base the school's reconstruction on the prototype of traditional indigenous houses. The most sacred area in a traditional Bunun house, the "millennium granary," serves as the school's library, symbolizing a warehouse of knowledge. The first floor of the library features several semi-outdoor platform spaces that can be used for performances and ceremonies, fully integrating with village activities. The second floor classrooms serve as learning spaces for Bunun youth. A tall observation tower acts as a bell tower, water tower, and flagpole. Despite its small size, the annual village sports held at the school is an important community event, where running competitions take center stage, necessitating the preservation of a circular track, thus leading to the construction of the school in the middle of the track. The materials used include T-shaped steel plates and matte weather-resistant panels, combined with traditional gray and black slate from the Bunun community, seamlessly integrating the school into the countryside. With its vibrant colors and innovative design, the building completely overturns the monotonous and dull stereotypes typically associated with elementary school structures; first-time visitors to TanNan often mistakenly think that this wall-less building is a coffee shop. TanNan Elementary School is a source of pride for the villagers and a beacon of hope for their tribe.
