Starting from the start 021. Rust-Dyed Textiles from the Construction Site

When we first considered creating a shared space entirely from construction waste, it was natural to have some concerns. Would the space feel too harsh? Would it be comfortable enough for everyday use? We kept reminding ourselves that the experience ultimately had to be human-centered. Could softer elements—such as cushions—help balance the raw materiality of the space?

Rather than seeing this as a limitation, the META Design team turned it into another design opportunity. As part of the Construction Waste Upcycling Project, META Design invited several Taiwanese artists to collaborate, each bringing their own creative language into the process. Through these collaborations, construction waste was no longer treated only as structure or form, but extended into the realms of art, culture, and sensibility—bringing the focus back to human experience.

The cushions placed on the seating are one such example. They were created by artist Ying-Ting Chen, whom META Design invited to participate in the project. Known for her work with rust dyeing and botanical dyes, Ying-Ting developed a series of fabrics specifically for the Construction Waste Upcycling Project. Upon closer inspection, subtle impressions left by rebar, nails, and metal mesh can be found on the surface—preserving traces of the construction site in a more delicate form.

Through this transformation, every layer of the shared space—from large furniture pieces to cushions—responds to the core ideas of the project. What might otherwise feel rigid or industrial is softened, gaining depth and warmth.

In later stages of the project, Ying-Ting’s textiles were further applied to chair seats and slipcovers, allowing art to move beyond decoration and become part of daily use. This collaboration was not simply a stylistic choice, but a reflection of shared values. By inviting artists into the project and into the space, we opened up new possibilities for sustainability and regeneration—grounded in people, emotion, and everyday life.

Photo Credit: META Design

Editor: Shih Yi Feng

Starting from the start 026. Where Cultural Change Began to Ripple

Complaints and doubts are not necessarily negative. Sometimes, they are simply the beginning of conversation. FG Next had been in preparation since 2017, with weekly meetings devoted to discussion and debate, gradually shaping Farglory’s direction toward “sustainability” and “sharing”. The 1.0 shared space was the first attempt to bring the idea of circular regeneration in architecture into the workplace. When a concept moves from discussion into everyday reality—when it becomes part of where people work—it naturally invites people to feel, to reflect, and even to question. That, too, is part of cultural change.

Starting from the start 025. The Night We Moved In: Project 1.0

Six months earlier, the FG Next team had visited the META Design studio in Tamsui for the first time. That visit allowed us to truly see how discarded resources could be transformed into something meaningful. It aligned closely with the conversations FG Next had been having for more than two years around architectural sustainability. When we shared the background of FG Next, the issues we care about, and the idea of using the 16th-floor shared space as an experimental site, META Design understood that this was not a one-off commission. It was a company choosing to test new approaches within its own workplace.

Starting from the start 024. A Phone Booth Between Vision and Reality

After the completion of the 1.0 shared space, practical needs led us to add a phone booth. Looking at a space built entirely from construction waste, and then flipping through catalogs of commercially available office booths, it felt clear that simply placing a ready-made product inside would the overall look and feel of the space. It would look out of place.