The Construction Waste Upcycling Project is not only an experiment in material reuse—it is also a way for us to engage with society. This year, we stepped outside the office and supported Chin-Ai Music to build a sustainable restaurant in their Zhudong campus. The project carries Farglory’s core values of sustainability and sharing, and was designed and built by META Design using the same principles behind the Upcycling Project.
Crafting a Dining Space from Reclaimed Elements
META Design used reclaimed wooden trusses to shape the atmosphere of the space. They also transformed steel bars and wood formwork collected from Farglory construction sites into dining tables, chairs, and work counters. Because the restaurant is located next to Zhudong Train Station, the outdoor seating area was built with retired Taiwan Railways sleepers, allowing guests to enjoy their meal while watching the trains pass by.
A Volunteer Effort Built Together
During the building process, we organized a volunteer program and invited colleagues to join in. Our team helped make the furniture at META Design’s Tamsui studio, cleaned the site of the restaurant, carried railway sleepers, and laid recycled gravel. In total, the restaurant was completed using 22.8 tons of recycled materials, becoming a tangible example of how the Construction Waste Upcycling Project puts sustainability and sharing into practice.
A Living Classroom for the Children
The restaurant will be run jointly by the students of Chin-Ai Music. Through operating the restaurant, the children gain hands-on experience in service and management, while also learning about the land, culture, and community around them.
We warmly invite you to visit the restaurant, meet the children, enjoy their music, and taste the meals they proudly prepare.
About Chin-Ai Music：https://www.chin-ai.org.tw/
Visit the restaurant：https://maps.app.goo.gl/qUS4vtux6fxwX7Q7A
Photo Credit: META Design
Editor: Shih Yi Feng
