Every now and again a project comes along that combines all your Christmases at once, and being asked to be one of the design consultants for the new Neuro diversity center at JVR had all the angels singing in harmony for me.
This was a project incredibly close to my heart as my daughter is neuro divergent and its been an interesting journey for us to say the least. What excited me the most was having the need for a space catering for neurodiverse children recognized, and this space becoming a game changing case study for mainstream schooling. The space became a showcase of the way design can be both playful and impactful, making a huge difference in how we respond, feel and relate to each other.
A relatively small space in the school was allocated to us for this project and together with Stretch architects and Mari Kushner, we devised ways to open and create a connection back to the mountain, with windows that pop out over the courtyard. Little sky nests were created from which the children can look out at the world below, and a top treehouse space was created for safe spaces for the children to unwind from sensory or emotional overload.
Due to the space being quite contained, everything had to have multi purposes. The furniture was designed to be able to move around and suit both individual and group needs. Spaces can open and close and the staircase doubles as a hiding spot with both storage and cute little alcoves to nap and escape from the exterior world for a while.
It was crucial for the space to feel welcoming and safe and the double volume of the ceiling allows a feeling of space. A colour palette of calming neutrals and peaceful pastels were combined to support the playful serenity of the space, with each texture used being carefully considered.
The result of this project was a space where learners experiencing sensory overload or feeling overwhelmed can go to feel safe and calm. This Zen Den will remain one of my favorite projects to date. Not only due to the team dynamic working well but mostly being able to witness the impact of the design working for the children it was intended for.
As designers we speak often of impactful design, but to actually be able to create a space that does just that is the ultimate cherry on top.
The Brief:
Create a space where learners experiencing sensory overload or feeling overwhelmed can go to feel safe and calm. Combine this space to house both the main school therapist and speech therapist, with spaces that can house large and small groups at a time.
BEFORE:
Biggest challenge:
I think the hardest part of this project was ensuring that the expectations we had set for ourselves were met. When you are creating a safe calming space for children that needs to function and work in a very specific way, each element needs to be scrutinized. Kids will always be your harshest critic and the greatest joy was seeing kids come in and enjoy the space!
Best feature:
The view from the treehouse looking through the beautiful ball lantern lights.
AFTER:
