Designers agree that building interior and exterior spaces are equal to learning experiences for college students, from classrooms, libraries, cafes, and sports centers, all create wellbeing for the brain and body. All learning spaces should focus on sustainability and be biophilic, incorporating natural materials, natural light, and outdoors into the design. Kwalu offers furniture that helps evoke nature, by allowing designers to safely incorporate the allure of wood into education environments, without the concern of using wood furniture which loses its finish quickly when exposed to everyday hard use or cleaning.
Designers suggest that using biophilic materials and varied seating models featuring soft and hard surfaces and incorporating texture and patterns into classroom and higher education design help create learning spaces that are interesting and inviting spaces. Wing back chairs in a group provide privacy and help with acoustics in a large area. Flexible furnishings provide versatility to change spaces and accommodate a number of students at any given time. For example, ottomans that double as tables save space and utilize tight floorplans for group collaboration, which will enhance learning experiences and invite socialization for all students.
Science shows us that our environment has an impact on our experiences, our health, and our minds. If a biophilic-designed space meets the needs that address these experiences, then design will have a very beneficial impact on learning. Higher education design should pave the way for the experience you want to achieve. Learning spaces in college campuses today, have moved beyond the classroom. Student lounges, resident hall lounges, libraries, solariums and even the student sport center are prioritizing flexible learning space and classroom design for dynamic, collaborative learning. The world-renowned physicist, Albert Einstein said, “I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.”