From SDGs Toward a Vision of Sustainable Cities

YunTech “Green Loop” by Department of Architecture and Interior Design Wins National Design Competition Merit Award

The Department of Architecture and Interior Design at National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (YunTech) has once again achieved outstanding recognition. The student team of Yuxuan Cao and Enyu Lin received a Merit Award in the 7th Taichung Melody Park Competition – 15-Minute Living Circle Creative Design Competition for their project “Green Loop – A Street System That Forms a Circular Way of Life.”

Selected from numerous entries nationwide, the project stood out for its innovative urban design approach grounded in sustainable development principles. It proposes a future-oriented city blueprint that integrates environmental, social, and community needs through reimagined street spatial planning and daily life functions, demonstrating both strong design capability and social awareness among YunTech students.

The project was supervised by Assistant Professor Hsin-Ju Yang from the Department of Architecture and Interior Design. Professor Yang has long focused on sustainable architecture, environmental planning and design, community participation, and urban regeneration. She also integrates the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into her design courses.

In her teaching framework, students are guided to select three SDG targets and develop integrated design solutions through field investigations, issue analysis, and hands-on design practice. This approach fosters interdisciplinary thinking to address contemporary challenges such as climate change, healthy cities, circular economy, and sustainable urban development. Green Loop was developed under this pedagogical framework, applying a circular system concept to connect pedestrian environments, green spaces, and community life, thereby creating a more livable and sustainable street network.

The Department of Architecture and Interior Design at YunTech continues to promote a teaching model that integrates “sustainability issues × design practice × competition outcomes.” This approach encourages students to transform classroom learning into real-world design solutions while gaining practical experience through national competitions.

This award not only recognizes the students’ innovation and design excellence but also highlights the department’s achievements in cultivating professionals with strong capabilities in sustainable thinking, design integration, and problem-solving. Looking ahead, the department will continue to strengthen sustainability-oriented design education and nurture a new generation of designers capable of responding to societal needs and creating value for future cities.

Event: 7th Taichung Melody Park Competition – Award Ceremony
Awarded Students: Yuxuan Cao / Enyu Lin

Organizing Unit: Department of Architecture and Interior Design
Director: Hsiao-Chien Kao
Contact Person: Yu-Wen Lin
Contact Number: +886-5-534-2601 ext. 6302