Chih-Chen Chang's Innovative Dance Classroom: Dance is the Hidden Language of Soul

Transforming Space into a Stage for the Soul's Dance

The design's unique properties lie in its deliberate claustrophobic and narrow entrance, which shields the compartments of some classroom stages. The concrete wall is converted into a penetrating glass material, extending the vision and suggesting that the visitors can maintain a special relationship with the dancers or students in the classroom. This creates an ambiguous tension, akin to a sneak peek into the world of dance.

The classroom, located on the 4th and 5th floors with an area of 130 and 123 square meters respectively, was realized using post-concrete, art paint, iron pieces, glass, floating floor, and oak wood floor. The design team, led by Creative Director Chih-Chen Chang and Designer Yu-Chen Lin, simplified all modeling and used the most rigorous and complicated process to strengthen and overcome the height and sound insulation.

The original height is kept above the ceiling, and only covered with soundproof material. The ground is made of floating flooring by special techniques to eliminate the noise generated by resonance energy and protect the feet of the dancers. This thoughtful design consideration ensures that the space is not just aesthetically pleasing, but also functional and conducive to the art of dance.

The project started in May 2016 in Taipei and finished in December 2016, opening in January 2017. The design process involved extensive research on how to make everyone who comes into the space naturally lighten their pace, feel relaxed and calm, because dance can make people know their bodies and purify their minds.

Chih-Chen Chang's design faced challenges in transforming the old house space of more than 40 years old. The team had to redefine the space with artists with lofty souls, simplify all modeling, and use the most rigorous and complicated process to strengthen and overcome the height and sound insulation. Visually, they used the rustic features of rust walls, concrete walls, and natural oak floors as a spatial expression to echo the artist's most original nature and character.

This innovative design was recognized with a Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2019. The award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.