Adding comfort and some much needed peace and quiet to a busy environment
The pupils at primary school Paus Johannes (Pope John Paul II) are encouraged to adopt a positive but critical attitude, where they learn to manage their own decisions and emotions. Discovering and using their unique talents is essential, and an inquisitive attitude is actively encouraged.
The classrooms have an interior that exudes tranquillity. The desks have been given an anthracite frame colour with grey oak tabletops. The application of a single table height principle means that all pupils sit at an equal height at their desks. Some chairs have footrests while others do not.
The classrooms for the junior years are equipped with a workshop trolley for the children to express their creative talents. For circle discussions in class, there is an arrangement of benches with comfortable cushions and roll-out trays for small toys and knick-knacks. The sand/water/light table is where the pupils can discover and learn all about nature, for example.
The plazas are where the children can play. The plaza for the juniors has a wall with playful cut-outs that lets you enter extra small and cosy spaces, as it were. This is where pupils can sink down onto a comfortable sofa to read or relax. Most of these wall spaces are intended for pupils to unwind and retreat for a while. There is even a round LED screen above the round/curved sofas in the centre of the plaza.
The study plazas for the middle and upper classes are furnished with industrially-designed metal tube-frame cabins with sofas; ideal for working on a group assignment together. Or where pupils can receive one-to-one instructions from a teacher or simply gathering with a group at lunchtime and having a sandwich.
The staffrooms for the headteacher and his team have also been given a relaxing and luxurious feel. The offices have comfortable seats where colleagues can engage in conversation amongst themselves or with visitors in an informal setting.
The team room is a space where team members can sit comfortably on sofas or in upholstered chairs at tables. The wall graphic adds a finishing touch and enhances the atmosphere. This is a space where you can unwind or have lunch before, during or after class.
Photography: Jenneke Luijmens, De Zwarte Kater
‘STYLES COME AND GO. GOOD DESIGN IS A LANGUAGE, NOT A STYLE.’
We came into contact with Gispen Presikhaaf School Furniture after having received a recommendation by a sister school, which had good experiences with them.
Gispen Presikhaaf School Furniture largely keeps the production of its school furniture in-house, which makes it a reliable partner for us with short lines of communication. It's thanks to their many years of experience in furnishing schools that they have provided us with good advice, but also tend to listen to our wishes.
The process of selecting furniture at their own premises truly sets Gispen Presikhaaf School Furniture apart. You are shown various setups and there is ample opportunity to ask questions. The inspiration centre in Arnhem, additionally, is where you can get a good impression of what is possible. This is followed by a conversation about what requirements the furniture must meet, what your wishes are and how they can be fulfilled. Overall, I can say that working with them was a pleasant experience.
We were looking for furniture that exudes tranquillity and unity, but which also has a rugged look to it. The same colour schemes were used throughout the offices, the consulting room and the classrooms; the tabletops are even identical.
Everything fits together nicely with matching colour schemes for a unified interior design. The furniture can be used in such a way that it suits classroom teaching but can also accommodate other activities. In our junior classes, this is demonstrated by the use of sofas, cushions, sand/water/light tables and workshop trolleys. The way the desks are shaped throughout the school was also a deliberate choice, with friendly rounded corners at the front, but a flat side at the back in order to easily form a group setup.
We are very pleased with how our new interior turned out. We now have furniture that truly complements what our school stands for. It is functional in use while providing a relaxing and luxurious feel.
Would you like to learn more about the primary school Paus Johannes furnishing project? Then please contact Rob Stöver, Education furnishing specialist at Gispen Presikhaaf School Furniture.
