JinShui 361. META Space
Repurposing Electric Utility for Public Conversation

​Design Background

Duties and Challenges of State-Owned Power Company
Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) plays a crucial role in powering Taiwan. While the nation’s energy policy is highly debated, Taipower must carry out government policy and often faces public criticism.

The Hidden Burden of Retired Materials
At the same time, Taipower deals with large volumes of retired materials. In 2024 alone, 663 tons of insulators were decommissioned—excluding crossarms, transformers, and cables. Some of these cannot be handled by standard recycling systems, raising environmental concerns.

​Design Strategy

Turning Waste into Solutions
​Through design, we help Taipower address challenges in public communication and material reuse. Instead of seeing retired materials as waste, we treat them as resources to meet Taipower’s renovation and furnishing needs. Taipower spaces created from retired materials offer new ways for the public to see and understand Taipower.

Revitalizing a Taipower Building for Public Engagement

We supported Taipower in transforming a long-vacant building into an open space for public engagement and communication. Built with retired Taipower materials, the space features a cafe, shop, and exhibition area—inviting visitors to experience and understand Taipower from new perspectives.

Translating Taipower’s Frontline Work into Spatial Expression
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​We visited Taipower's power station, work station and warehouses across Taiwan to observe frontline work, incorporating these insights into the space design, showcasing the dedication of its workers and allow the public to see a side of Taipower rarely accessible. The coffee bar draws inspiration from the neatly bundled wooden crossarms stored in Taipower’s warehouses, reflecting the visual order and discipline of frontline operations. While evoking the imagery of stacked materials, it also fulfills practical functions such as cashier service, food preparation, and storage.

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Transmitting Knowledge of the Power Industry​
Every design element in the space serves as a medium for sharing power industry knowledge. This wall installation, made of 600 end cuts from retired wooden crossarms, forms the lightning bolt from Taipower’s logo. The color of each piece reflects its classification in the field—red for untreated wood, and white for those chemically treated for durability.

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Regenerated TPC Furniture

Using retired transformer boxes, wooden and steel crossarms, we designed and built 6 pieces of “Regenerated TPC Furniture” for the seating area. Originally part of the power grid, these materials followed strict standards and structural logic, which later translated into a unique design language for the furniture. These pieces can be applied to Taipower service centers across Taiwan, allowing the public to engage with them firsthand— bringing people closer to the story behind the materials and the company itself.

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Taipower Furniture Restoration Project

While visiting Taipower’s power plants, maintenance depots, and warehouses, we came across many old furniture pieces uniquely built to meet specific worksite needs. The Taipower Furniture Restoration Project aims to repair or redesign these pieces and return them to active use—preserving not only the furniture itself, but also Taipower’s history and emotional legacy.

Taipower Furniture Restoration Project

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Insulator Stone — Recycled Material Innovation
In 2024 alone, Taipower decommissioned 663 tons of insulators. These non-recyclable high-fired ceramics pose a disposal challenge. In response, we develop "Insulator Stone"—a recycled material based on engineered quartz and infused with crashed insulators. This material can be used for interior walls, countertops, and flooring. Every 5 slabs repurpose 1 ton of retired insulators, offering a scalable solution for future use across Taipower sites throughout Taiwan.

Each Insulator Stone contains approximately 60% retired insulators. While most are crushed into granules to create this quantified recycled material, we also preserve the original form of some pieces. By embedding sliced fragments of insulators in various shapes into the surface, the stones reveal subtle outlines of their former life—inviting the public to recognize the connection between the recycled material and its origin.

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Reimagining Taipower Through Art Installations

​Art installations are one of the ways we repurpose retired Taipower materials. These installations provide new perspectives for the public to understand Taipower and the materials it uses—helping the company communicate and build stronger connections with the public.

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