The global outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 has affect all sectors. In Taiwan, 
tourism related industries that rely on tourists, especially international and 
business travelers have suffered the most. The global pandemic continues to 
spread, and all hotels are striving for a new business model in response to the 
adverse impacts of the pandemic. Some hotels have converted to quarantine 
hotels, while some others launched new marketing campaigns. 

Sitting in the alleys of Daan District at the heart of Taipei, Folio Daan 
Taipei is a design hotel transformed from a 43-year-old dormitory of Taiwan 
Cooperative Bank. Adopting the principles of circular design, "Taiwan Design 
Research Institute (TDRI)" leads "Rock Rising" and "2 by Wu&Chen" to focus on 
service innovation and develop integrated innovative services that combine 
hotel and circular products. Through the planning of immersive experiences from 
space reconstruction, service design, select circular products, to experiential 
activities, circular design and products are naturally used and procured by 
consumers in places of travel and living. 

Circular design of the place begins with the redesigning of two guest rooms. 
The first one is "Livingreen Room," which is inspired by "green energy" and 
fuses on leftover flowers of flower stores and indigenous plants of Taiwan, 
injecting the hope of the eternal cycle of life into growing greenery. The 
second room is "Hiddenspace Room," which focuses on "energy conservation;" 
through design of lighting, the earthy colors are extended to exhibit the 
tranquil but vibrant and robust hidden dynamics of the land. Circular concept 
is not just incorporated for the design of the space: the water glasses in the 
guest rooms are hand-crafted using recycled glasses by "Spring Pool Glass;" the 
reading lamps are made of disposed materials of retired equipment of 
"TPCreative;" comfortable and soft indoor slippers by "Oringo" are made of 
scrap leather; toiletries are provided by "SESN," which uses non-plastic 
packaging that can be fully decomposed; and stereo system with wooden speakers 
made of old door frames by "minfort."

As for furniture, "REHOW" and "2 by Wu&Chen" use fabrics of Folio's disposed 
beddings to make pillow sleeves and bed runners; the nightstand is made of 
recycled pulp by "Sleepy Tofu;" chairs are made of disposed fabrics by 
"#0Waste;" tumblers made from coffee grounds by "TZULAÏ," travel packs made of 
recycled materials by "bitplay" and disposed canvas by "REBIRTH." Not only does 
the circular concept greet all guests from the moment they step into the space, 
it is really an upgraded life experience at the hotel. 

The circular project first features a hotel as a demo site, rethinking and 
innovating the service model in the time of the pandemic, while also using 
circular design to show support for a sustainable future. In the future, the 
project aims to continue utilizing design's strength of interdisciplinary 
connection, where the circular concept can be duplicated into other sectors, 
and develop business model to reconstruct the relationship between consumers 
and industries, as well as circular environment and new consumption model of 
consumers and industries.

SOURCE:  Taiwan Design Research Institute

Image Attachments Links:

   Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=380408

   Caption: From top-left, bottom-left, to right: Livingreen Room, Hiddenspace 
Room, and bed running made of disposed care labels.