17 January 2012

Architecture students help turn great outdoors into learning environment

Image shows Stephen Sampson's winning design.

Schoolrooms may currently be providing respite from the winter weather, but a group of Monifieth youngsters are already looking forward to warmer days when they can enjoy their lessons in an outdoor classroom.

The classroom was specially designed for Grange Primary School by architecture students at the University of Dundee as part of their second-year coursework. A total of 68 students submitted designs, before voting to select the five best proposals put forward by their peers.

The entire cohort of students was then split into teams to work with the original designers to further develop the ideas. They created detailed plans and models, which were presented to Grange Primary for pupils, staff and parents to vote on in order to select the entry to be built in the school's extensive grounds.

The winning design, 'Willow Dome', was originally conceived by Stephen Sampson, and meets the brief to provide comfortable seating for 30 children. The structure consists of a circular, raised platform, with a series of plywood ribs forming its outer edge and curving round to a central point at the full 2.8m height of the classroom.

A canvas cover will be stretched over half the classroom to provide shelter for the children and the perfect environment in which they can learn. By removing the physical aspects of the conventional classroom, a more informal set up is introduced which allows for a more discussion-orientated lesson to take place.

The idea came from a member of Grange's Parent Council, and Head teacher Lorraine Will approached members of the architecture programme staff at the University to see if they would be able to help designing the classroom. Mrs Will said everyone at the school was thrilled by the final design, and are now engaged in a fundraising campaign to raise the £10,000 required to build the classroom.

'We couldn't be happier with the work the students did for us, and the final design, which is just absolutely brilliant," she said. "The idea behind the outdoor classroom is to maximise our lovely school grounds, and fits with the Curriculum for Excellence requirements to use the outdoor environment to support learning.

'From our point of view, it was important to involve the pupils in helping to design the type of classroom that looked and functioned as they wanted. The designs the students produced were simply amazing and the models and plans were on display at the school to give parents a chance to view them and decide on their favourite.

'It was lovely to have the staff, pupils and parents voting for the winning design as it gave everyone a real sense of involvement with the project. The fact the University have got involved is fantastic, and the enthusiasm of the students helped to raise the levels of excitement surrounding the project.

'When the students came up to present their designs it was also beneficial from a careers education perspective as it formed a link between primary school and university and already we've seen some of the pupils say they want to be architects as a result.'

Mrs Will says the fundraising drive is now in full swing, and the school are in the process of applying for grants to go towards the construction costs. It is hoped the outdoor classroom will be built and fully functioning by the summer of 2013.

Stephen (29), originally from South Africa, said the original idea was sparked by childhood memories of being educated outdoors.

'My primary school had a willow tree in the playing fields, and I remember it being one of the most popular places for us to sit under, whether it was for a class or during lunch break so this formed the ideology for the concept,' he said.

'The willow tree was often referred to as 'the tree of dreaming' by the early Celts and this acts as a reminder that an aspiration driven by creativity and dedication can become a reality.

'This is the first project I've been involved in that will result in something being built so it has been an amazing learning experience in all aspects. I'm very excited about seeing the classroom develop and built. It will be fantastic to see my idea become a reality and creating a learning space that will be populated by the school.'

A brief to design outdoor structures has been part of the brief for second-year architecture students for several years now. In previous years, they were challenged to design and build 'sitooteries', a series of timber shelters for the University campus. These had to be aesthetically pleasing, functional and sufficiently inviting to allow staff, students and visitors to enjoy a relaxing seat outdoors.

Second-year programme leader Carol Robertson said the outdoor classroom project challenged the students to put into practice their communication as well as their technical skills.

'The fact that students were working with the community on this practical project is an invaluable lesson for them," she said. "It is really beneficial to have them working on a design which will actually be built, and this particular project got them used to talking to an audience of non-architects, in this case children.

'This meant they had to use simple language to explain the concept and function of their designs, without using jargon that laymen may not understand, and produce clear drawings and models to describe the nature of the proposals. This is very important for their future careers, and they have gained valuable experience thanks to Grange Primary's involvement.'

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