|
WESTBOROUGH PRIMARY SCHOOL, Westcliff-on-Sea,
Essex; Innovative designs such as these locker ‘cages’ can
be attractive as well as functional.
2B.5
FURNITURE
•
Higher quality furniture is expected in schools today.
• Furniture can help to make spaces more flexible.
The
quality of school furniture is often below that in other community
spaces and offices, yet people consider furniture a key aspect
of a school's interior. This was demonstrated by the School
I'd Like competition, in which pupils included comfortable
seating and better height tables on their wish list for an
ideal
|
school.
A school of the future accommodating a range of users should
have something more attractive than standard school furniture,
although it should be built for heavy use (see Furniture and
Equipment in Schools: a Purchasing Guide). Ergonomics should
be considered, especially as a greater range of people will
be using the furniture. The needs of both adults and children
should be considered.
Where PCs are used, specialist computer tables will be needed.
This will not be the case for small portable equipment, although
tables should be large enough to allow for a laptop to be used
alongside paperwork. In informal work areas, possibly even in
wide circulation areas, fairly narrow standing-height work surfaces
may be appropriate, taking up a minimal amount of space. Where
laptops are used in practical areas, space must be allowed to
'park' the equipment during practical activities. Furniture
in dedicated ICT spaces will be more specialised, with adjustable
chairs preferred to ensure a comfortable viewing height.
The choice of furniture can aid flexibility by making it easy
to reconfigure spaces or create space within a space. Tables
should be light enough to move around to suit different activities
(although this must be balanced with the need for sturdiness
in some practical areas).
|
