Hyndland After School Club. Case Study: Graphic Identity and Interior Design

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1 Hyndland After School Club Case Study: Graphic Identity and Interior Design 1

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3 Hyndland After School Club Overview Hyndland After School Club was an existing Dining Hall located within the grounds of Hyndland Primary School. This has been completely remodeled internally to create an after school club for pupils aged This project consists entirely of interior work, and sought to achieve the maximum additional floor area and additional essential facilities without sacrificing the quality of the double height top lit space. The design solution breaks down the volume of the internal space into a scale more suitable for a child, and into zones for different activities. The central space remains open with a free form arrangement suitable for group activities. The upper levels provide more privacy allowing focused study and smaller learning activities, as well as administrative functions. Designers Perspective Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) invited three designers, one of which was involved in the project, to visit and comment on the Graphics and Interior Design of Hyndland After School Club. This Case Study gives their views on the project, including these overall impressions; Staircase up to the children s mezzanine (Photo: Abbozzo) Jason Brown, Abbozzo (Designer on Project) The provision of varying types of spatial use expressed in geometric and colourful forms within the existing hall, provides an intimate and child orientated environment. Lucy Richards, StudioLR A delightful, friendly, colourful and positive environment. It is human and engaging the interior is enhanced with integrated artworks and signage by the children, and the language used is accessible and friendly. Peter Magnus, RMJM One of the main successes of the space is the way in which it engages with the children. The design approach creates a stimulating space for learning and creative play through a variety of child friendly zones. Front Page: Children s Cloakroom (Photo: RMJM) Top: View of the administration mezzanine (Photo: Abbozzo) Bottom: Small area for sitting or reading (Left Photo: Abbozzo, Right Photo: RMJM) 3

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5 Hyndland After School Club Interior Design Lessons Make sure spaces are the right scale for children One of the aims of the project was to maintain the feel of a large open plan hall. However within this space there was a need to create a number of smaller spaces for different activities. The ICT, reading and multipurpose activities have been elevated above the general activity below. This offers a partially enclosed space for focused attention and learning while still having visual links to the main area. The cloak room is of sufficient size to allow easy supervision and prevent potential overcrowding issues. Intimate spaces have been designed adjacent to the central area for more sensitive activities. The wet areas are carefully balanced in scale to control activity and prevent overcrowding. In addition, a unique feature has been created below the stairs which forms an excellent dual purpose reading/play space. Children taking pride in their space is really important The children are clearly proud of their after school club an example of this is the mural painted by the children inside the girls toilets. Great care has been taken to make a sign for the door, and the children have painted a colourful and carefully composed undersea world that covers an entire wall. They have really made it their own and have taken great care to make it a nice environment. The healthy café has lively and bright hand-painted signs and images of fruit snacks to encourage healthy eating. The children are influencing and taking ownership of a positive initiative by getting involved with communicating messages and displaying them on the wall beside the serving hatch. The children s artwork is displayed using MDF paneling to the external walls, which act as large pin boards. The architects suggest that in hindsight they would more closely coordinate the children s displays with the interior design. For example, the external white (MDF) panels could have been sized to match the output of the children s wall displays. Artwork created by the pupils (Photo: Studio LR) Award Winning Project Hyndland After School Club is a winner of the Children in Scotland Making Space 2010 International Architectural Awards. The judges said the building allows the club to be creative and adventurous, facilitating arts and crafts activities and games to suit all ages and abilities. These awards celebrated architecture and design for children and young people, bringing together innovative and inspiring examples of effective learning spaces. Top: View of the main space and children s mezzanine (Photo: RMJM Bottom: Children s Cloakroom (Photo: RMJM) 5

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7 Hyndland After School Club Create spaces that connect well The ICT/reading mezzanine incorporates two small framed openings, offering views to the general purpose space below. The chunky, playful framed openings on one side offer a contrast to the restrained, partially glazed strip opening on the other for passive supervision by staff. A clear hierarchy is defined through design which establishes and defines boundaries. The stairs within the building have been carefully considered. The stairs to the pupil mezzanine are accessed directly from the central general purpose space and are easily visible against the red curved feature with open vertical timber balustrading and handrail to encourage circulation between floors. Conversely the stair leading to the private office and admin functions are concealed behind the orange feature and is accessible from a deliberately narrowed circulation corridor. Both stairs have different degrees of enclosure, to either invite or deter children from entering. Colour coding can provide identifiable spaces The facilities have been colour coded, identifying different spaces for different uses. The coloured features form an easily identifiable wayfinding strategy; the kitchen is contained within the green cube, the admin/office within the orange feature, the toilets within the curved red feature and the ICT behind the purple feature. Staircase up to mezzanine (Photo: RMJM) A+DS Reflections Hyndland After School Club found a way of transforming an existing shell into an engaging and stimulating space by breaking it down into child-friendly zones. Colour is successfully used to differentiate the areas where activities can happen, from small quiet spaces, to larger spaces for group work. A key factor in the success of the club is the personalisation of the space - the children have really taken an ownership and pride in the place, and have created signs and artwork throughout. The designer has embraced the need to consider early on in the interior design strategy how the work of the children can be incorporated. Children s Mezzanine (Photo: Abbozzo) 7

8 Project Information This is part of a short series of case studies looking at the interior design elements of three schools. Three designers have reviewed their own projects, as well as the projects of their counterparts on another two projects. This is an amalgamation of their ideas and experiences from visiting Hyndland After School Club. Location: Glasgow Architect: Abbozzo Client: Hyndland After School Club / Glasgow City Council Completion Year: (and ongoing) Age Range of Pupils: 5-12 years School Roll: 95 daily, 40 during holidays, 21 Breakfast Club (averages) Other Case Studies in the Series are: Auchterarder Community School St Joseph s Primary School and Nursery This Case Study has been produced by the Schools Programme at Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS). For more information visit SmarterPlaces.org. Architecture and Design Scotland Bakehouse Close, 146 Canongate Edinburgh EH8 8DD Level 2, 11 Mitchell Lane, Glasgow, G1 3NU T: +44 (0) F: +44 (0) E: [email protected] Produced in association with 8 With thanks to Jason Brown (Abbozzo), Peter Magnus (RMJM) and Lucy Richards (Studio LR).