This project involves the conversion of an inner-city warehouse to a school that caters for young people who find it difficult to learn in a mainstream school setting.
This project involves the conversion of an inner-city warehouse to a school that caters for young people who find it difficult to learn in a mainstream school setting.
Trauma-informed design principles have been utilised, such as providing a series of retreat spaces that allow young people to regulate and re-engage in a progressive approach, circuits for movement to dissipate big energy, and simple, clear, and uncluttered spaces to allow young people to focus.
Prospect and refuge design elements have been included. Young people can choose spaces that enable prospect; a perception of increased safety by being able to see a threat (real or perceived) ahead of time. There are also spaces for refuge: nooks, low ceilings, and protected spaces.
Glazing has also been carefully considered. Balancing competing interests of visual connection, sight lines, natural light with the need to minimise reflective surfaces and distraction.
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