Joined Up Design for School is a project that allows schools' most frequent users - the children - to participate in the (re)design process of their schools. It explores how good designs can improve the quality of life in school by listening to children's voices.
I'm impressed by how the 4-7 years old voice out their demand for a new reception area through coversation, exhibition and voting. It certainly is a great opportunity for children to exercise their creativity and sense of participation! As the teacher says, "Yes, it's a difficult process for the children to understand, but it is definitely a valuable learning opportunity"
I also admire the designers, who are willing to seriously work with the children and carefully intrepret their needs. The design team realizes, "Designers and architects actually listen to what the children say, what they talk about. Rather than it being completely prescriptive, as it mostly is. Grown-ups go off and do something that they think the children want and that may not necessarily be the case."
Here's a video of one of their projects - Designing a new reception area for a school in Kent, UK.
I'm impressed by how the 4-7 years old voice out their demand for a new reception area through coversation, exhibition and voting. It certainly is a great opportunity for children to exercise their creativity and sense of participation! As the teacher says, "Yes, it's a difficult process for the children to understand, but it is definitely a valuable learning opportunity"
I also admire the designers, who are willing to seriously work with the children and carefully intrepret their needs. The design team realizes, "Designers and architects actually listen to what the children say, what they talk about. Rather than it being completely prescriptive, as it mostly is. Grown-ups go off and do something that they think the children want and that may not necessarily be the case."
Here's a video of one of their projects - Designing a new reception area for a school in Kent, UK.
The American Architectural Foundation have published some documents on school designs, click here if you are interested in knowing more.
