Physical Space

Inspirational learning spaces are essential for all educators; especially in the classroom. The teenage years are rife with wonder, bewilderment, and self-identification. It is a time of being at a crossroad between one's youth and adulthood, as well as between personal interest and responsibility. The Averroes High School interior is designed by collaboration between the school's founders and a design team. All of them envisioned a space where students could be inspired both intellectually and artistically.

We have all seen the typical high schools, with their long corridors flanked with lockers and white linoleum flooring. This style indeed serves a function, but we had a different vision for Averroes. We apply both form and function and reinvent the notion of what an educational institution should look like. Our primary focus is to create a space that encourages inspiration and exploration, not only for the pupils but also for the educators.

The reality is that we are dealing with 4,000 square feet of open space, and transforming that into an inspirational arena requires imagination and innovation. We decided to keep the floor plan open to encourage fluidity between the different workspaces, allowing for a cross-pollination of ideas. That said, our design team had to identify and define each workspace, and they accomplished this feat through the use of colored walls and an appropriate choice of furniture for each respective area. Walking into AI, one can immediately notice the use of vibrant colors that have been juxtaposed against very tactile and natural elements, maintaining an ecologically friendly milieu.

We covered every detail to ensure each space would have true individuality, maximum functionality, and pleasing aesthetics; simplicity being a key consideration. Standing at the heart of Averroes high school is a collaborative and innovative institution that houses the school's communal ideals. Here, students can engage in intellectual or spiritual discourse with their peers and educators. In the classroom, wheeled tables are utilized so that space allows for discussion or lecture settings. The lounge area, which is normally reserved for staff in regular high schools, is dedicated entirely to our pupils. Here, they can collect their thoughts, read for leisure, compare notes, sketch ideas on chalkboard coffee tables, or reflect on an upcycled couch. This area has been created to encourage ideation.