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Approaches
include:
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Making classrooms large enough to cater for a range of different
users and activities, avoiding too close a fit to any one
space. This 'loose fit' approach tends to increase the overall
area but can be offset against a reduced need to adapt accommodation
over time;
•
Using
moveable partitions between spaces to enable different spaces
to be created when needed. These have to be of good quality
to withstand heavy school use and are expensive. The detrimental
effect on sound insulation should be considered;
•
Creating
a range of different sized spaces. Rooms are booked as needed
by mutual agreement. This should reduce the overall area needed
but can be difficult to manage.
Shape,
as well as size, can affect the flexibility of a space. It
is useful to standardise room proportions as far as possible
so that different activities can be accommodated in a number
of different spaces. Oddly-shaped spaces which can only be
organised in one way should be avoided.
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Flexibility
and adaptability
A flexible design allows a variety of activities to be
accommodated without cost or inconvenience. The level
of flexibility required varies according to the building
type; thus while the furniture in an individual room in
an office building may not be moved for several years,
the furniture in a primary classroom may be moved around
daily to suit different activities. This definition of
flexibility differs from adaptability, which is the ability
to adapt a building over time to suit changing needs (see
Section 2C.4). |
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Simplicity is usually the key to flexibility,
although for some designers this might conflict
with efforts to achieve visual excitement through
complexity.
It is easier to achieve flexibility where there
is little or no need for specialised servicing,
furniture or equipment. A secondary science laboratory,
for example, has limited alternative use.
Flexibility can be achieved through organisational
changes such as adjusting the school timetable
or organising group sizes to suit available spaces
but the most flexibly designed spaces can only
work if building users have a flexible attitude.
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