What would schools look like if you were to design them today?

Answer 1

Set in lush green playing fields, welcoming to the eye.

Externally very informal, perhaps classic art deco 1920s design a la hoover building in west london; lots of green shaded/tinted glass and white stucco or plain white concrete walls.

Big windows to make the maximum use of natural light.

Internally the ceilings would not be too high as to intimidation, but not too low to leave students or teahcers feeling cramped.

In class-rooms and common areas walls should be plain plaster/render mix with a hard-wearing emulsion in very light pastel colours (almost white).

Light fittings should be low-energy mainly but also indirect lighting should be used to reduce eye-strain, in conjuction with plain white ceilings to maximise light reflection and energy efficiency.

Consideration should be given to making schools energy efficient through careful planning and inclusion of wind and solar energy within the architecture of the premises. Helping the environment and always a useful teaching aid in science and humanities subjects.

There should be study rooms with more informal seating and a mix of relaxation/reading areas and pc workstations laid out like city offices, not internet cafe style half-cubicles. These should be voluntary for students but monitored by cctv.

Students should expect to work in the kitchens of the school at some time of their school life instead of attending home economics lessons; work preparing food in the kitchens should be valued and prized and awards given for students who can produce a menu which is both popular and nutritious. Workers in school kitchens should be valued, highly prized and paid and motivated to produce good quality meals which all students will eat.

Lofty aims of the school should be recreated through some classical architecture on a grander scale in assembly rooms and other formal places such as main entrance halls - Latin mottos and their translations should be clearly displayed in these areas and repeated in abbreviated forms on school logo, crest, uniforms etc.

Good modern faciilties should be provided to students, staff, teachers, and visitors alike as befitting a quality municipal building which is provided for one of the most important human endeavours - knowledge.

The best sites in every city should be compulsorily purchased for the construction of such learning palaces for our children, close to public transport and available to all locals at no cost.

All students from all abilities and all backgrounds should be included and welcomed.

Discipline should be rigid and rules clearly laid out - in charter form for all parents and students to sign and agree to each year. But rules should be introduced only for the benefit of the wellbeing of the students and their educational needs, not to suit lazy parents, teachers or over-officious helath and safety freaks.

Sports facilities must include a swimming pool, gym, football, cricket and rugby field which can also be used for netball, hockey and athletics.

All children should be given a personal training program of a simple kind relative to their fitness and ability for which they will be rewarded when they achieve their targets.

I could probably come up with loads more, but you are probably bored reading this already.

Chris

Answer 2

They are already going up. They look and feel like shopping malls with tonnes of natural light ,open spaces,waterfalls and indoor tress.

Answer 3

And extremely large prison. :)