Completed 2007, the Learning Plaza project in Maidstone Kent is part way through a bold experiment to turn children into consumers of education. Using their own shiny new Tablet PCs, each pupil at New Line Learning Academy will be in charge of his or her learning programming, liasing with teachers either virtually or in the flesh in vast, open-plan ‘learning plazas’ that hold up to 120 children. Gone are the classrooms of 30, and corridors rife with opportunities for mischief and bullying. Gone are the old “chalk and talk” styles of teaching. Here, teachers circulate around fluid groups of children, acting as mentors rather than lecturing from a whiteboard.
Lanway Solutions
View this photo
Completed 2010 The Circle Bath (Centre of Clinical Excellence) combines natural light (through glazed facades and double height atriums) with access to fresh air. It prioritises idyllic views of Bath’s rolling countryside with sympathetic landscaping to further emphasise the therapeutic natural environment. The shared central space unites the building’s activities and includes a café, nurses’ station and reception point. Internally, the division between functional zones is minimised, easing the stress involved in consultation, treatment and recovery for patients. Walking distances for staff are kept to a minimum. The compact scale of the building (6000m²) eliminates the confusion and disorientation common in larger hospitals.
Foster & Partners
Comments