4240 responded to an international Classroom design competition which challenged architectural designers to team with a school of their choosing to define an ideal classroom of the future. The design addressed the unique challenges the school faces in trying to provide smart, safe and sustainable learning spaces. Students and teachers were given a chance to tell the world what they need to make their classroom more effective. 4240 worked one-on-one with students to translate those needs into better classroom design.
"What is architecture?" 4240 posed this question to the students.
The students very eagerly engaged in dialogue; talking about ideas of space, light and materiality while referencing significant buildings in the area. Afterwards the students gave summaries of their essay assignment. The students were asked to respond to the following questions in their essay:
1. What do you like about your school?
2. What do you like about your classroom?
3. If you could make your own classroom, what would be inside of it?
4. Where do you sit when you want to work, and why?
Several students drew pictures to try to illustrate their ideas. The most seminal drawing showed a garden in the middle of the classroom.
Most of the students were concerned about having enough natural light and being able to see the outdoors. Comfort / coziness was also important to the students. A variety of space sizes was also desired by the students. The students need large areas to participate in group work while at the same time they need small intimate spaces for solitary study/work. Wipe off boards and/or a technology wall that works like an iphone were important as well. The ability to work inside or outdoors was viewed as a necessity.
In the end, the students programmed and conceptually designed this classroom. 4240, the Architects, formed and detailed the classroom structure to the students' specifications. With the students, 4240 created a deployable classroom module that responds to its environment and transforms to provide learning space to both groups and individuals. Museum quality refracted light fills the space as natural ventilation promotes airflow to ensure the students' comfort. Flexibility is afforded by the hydroponic shift wall transforming the space from a single large space to two separate spaces and the furniture designed to nest within the Service Core.
Our School Partner
4240 teamed up with a K through 8 Montessori elementary school that just started their middle school program this past year. Because of the Montessori Pedagogy, students are educated in the same classroom for consecutive years. Therefore the middle school classroom is designed for grade levels 7 and 8. Additionally because of space restrictions in the current school building, the middle school classroom is located off-site from the main school. The proposed classroom is being design for 20 students.