adjacent to or connected by circulation spaces which become recreational areas or extensions of the learning environment . The interconnected nature often requires a high level of visual and physical connection , for example large , glazed openings which can present an acoustic challenge , not to mention visual distraction . This too comes with the obvious tension between the stimulation of interaction and the need to focus - spaces must balance a sense of containment with a feeling of connectedness .
In our view , the task for the design team is to cost-effectively enable flexibility and multi-functionality but not to lose sight of the need to adhere to the basic tenants of good environmental design . Without natural daylight and fresh air , good acoustics and thermal comfort - not to mention a connection to the outdoors - the ability to engage meaningfully is compromised .
These big leaps in flexibility and multi-functionality are made possible via the architecture , furniture and clever storage which play a significant support role in mode shifting . These include mobile furniture items that are quickly arranged in various ways ; whether on wheels or are sufficiently light to manoeuvre . This could be storage that doubles up as seating or inviting nooks and perches to engage in a variety of different activities . Other examples are smart acoustic panels that house screens , Wi-Fi points or other technologies while doubling as colourful absorbers of sound . Increasingly , the need to move , sit , stand , and even lie down whilst engaging in learning , are being facilitated via bar counters , poofs , ottomans , large staircases , and cave-like nooks .
What about South African Schools ? You might say that this all sounds somewhat indulgent and beyond the means of most schools in our country . Very few existing schools in South Africa can afford to extend their current facilities to cater to this expanded and evolving curriculum , and budgets for new schools are often based entirely on the fees parents can afford . We believe that the key is to find as many opportunities as possible and emulate the principles of flexible , interconnected spaces to as great a degree as possible . This means that the same set of buildings must become more multi-functional ; to accommodate smaller segregated groups ( particularly where there are significant age gaps ) while also being able to host larger gatherings and activities . Combine this with a carefully considered masterplan , which has outside learning spaces being equally important to their adjoining internal clusters , and we believe that it can enable many opportunities for educators to put into practice the activities associated with blended learning ( regardless of the degree of technological capacity ).
Investigations into how we might achieve this have tended towards a modular approach of primary and secondary structural elements . This allies well with another trend gaining further traction in the more cost-effective approach to the roll-out of schools which is the ‘ Design for Manufacture and Assembly ’ aspect . There are two components to this . Firstly , from a spaceplanning perspective , the modularity enables an adaptability which can be applied to multiple classroom instances . And secondly , the carefully considered modular method which uses standardised components making the ease of both production and assembly possible in a limited time frame . This is a research initiative dhk has begun to explore , and hopes to put into practice in the near future .
Summary What defines our current era is a massive increase in the agility and agency of the individual to , with the help of technology , navigate their own learning experience . This theme of adaptability has seen the notion of what constitutes a school transformed into a variety of different learning environments . Schools of all manner are popping up in various places with former office buildings and warehouses being kitted out as learning spaces . Recreational activities are being reconceived , too . Climbing , functional fitness , rooftop courts and club sports are alternatives to the traditional field-based sports . This is an exciting sector to watch evolve , potentially offering multiple routes to obtaining a well-rounded , and bespoke education .
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