FENSMARK SCHOOL- SCHOOL FOR KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
AFENSMARK SCHOOL - TRANSFORMATION
Fensmark School is a school for 90 children with special needs situated in old existing buildings in the dense Nørrebro area og Copenhagen.
The existing buildings are consisting of long dark hallways with classrooms divided to both sides of this. The hallways are currently 800m long and take up very precious m2, as there is no possibilities of adding building volume to the site and there is a huge demand for new school spaces for kids with special needs as the number is growing. In addition to the challenge of the long hallways the amount of doors (220) that all look the same, make the visit to the school feel like a maze. This is a huge challenge for the children.
MATTERS has been invited to re-think and transform the school and the solution has been to create a new very clear entry and common entry space for the children, divide the existing buildings into "houses" for the 3 different age groups, where the groups can feel that they belong.
The houses all have very few doors and have openings between levels and spaces to create synergy in the house. The houses have different identities so that the children has an easier time navigating through the school.
Furthermore the idea of how - and what kind of spaces children with special needs actually need has been turned upside down. Instead of accepting the common belief that classrooms and smaller rooms are optimal, we have started the design of spaces by looking at the actual needs for 8-10 "typical" types of children and designed spaces based on these analyses. These spaces range from the possibilities for being solo, partial solo, having an overview, the possibility of joining a small group, the possibility of feeling part of a community without actually being physically part of it, mini-labs, community activities and gathering.
Fensmark School is a school for 90 children with special needs situated in old existing buildings in the dense Nørrebro area og Copenhagen.
The existing buildings are consisting of long dark hallways with classrooms divided to both sides of this. The hallways are currently 800m long and take up very precious m2, as there is no possibilities of adding building volume to the site and there is a huge demand for new school spaces for kids with special needs as the number is growing. In addition to the challenge of the long hallways the amount of doors (220) that all look the same, make the visit to the school feel like a maze. This is a huge challenge for the children.
MATTERS has been invited to re-think and transform the school and the solution has been to create a new very clear entry and common entry space for the children, divide the existing buildings into "houses" for the 3 different age groups, where the groups can feel that they belong.
The houses all have very few doors and have openings between levels and spaces to create synergy in the house. The houses have different identities so that the children has an easier time navigating through the school.
Furthermore the idea of how - and what kind of spaces children with special needs actually need has been turned upside down. Instead of accepting the common belief that classrooms and smaller rooms are optimal, we have started the design of spaces by looking at the actual needs for 8-10 "typical" types of children and designed spaces based on these analyses. These spaces range from the possibilities for being solo, partial solo, having an overview, the possibility of joining a small group, the possibility of feeling part of a community without actually being physically part of it, mini-labs, community activities and gathering.