Space speaks. When we walk into a new space, it tells us what is expected of us. It tells us how we will relate to others and how we will work within it.
Challenge: Image search the term classroom or conference. What do you see?
Overwhelmingly, you’ll see rows.
“What do [the] studies show, viewed as a whole? Mostly this: If you wanted to create an education environment that was directly opposed to what the brain was good at doing, you probably would design something like a classroom.” John Medina, Brain Rules
When we walk into a space set as rows, what does it say to us? What expectations naturally arise?
Consider the different places you sit in this formation – a bus, a stadium, an airplane, a concert, a theater – what behaviors does this set encourage and discourage?
Tags: Architecture • Classroom • learning • Learning objectives • space design