INNOVATIVE DESIGN FOR LEARNING SPACES: WHY ARE EMERGING NEW SHAPES FOR SCHOOL FURNITURE?

In recent years, several programs and initiatives have been promoting educational reforms, in Europe. In countries like Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Italy, the referred reforms have resulted in interventions in the learning spaces and furniture.
The attempt to implement new promising learning models to future generations also had repercussion in the shape of the existing furniture in new learning spaces. This motivated new furniture solutions, whose shape diverts from the image of the traditional table, which was used for decades in European schools.
This article intends to identify some of those schools, which have suffered interventions in the last decade. Some companies which manufacture school furniture will also be considered. These will be used as an example to substantiate the creation of the new furniture solutions having as basis the pillars, previously identified. It is believed that these pillars are in the origin of the change in the furniture shape in their learning spaces. The pillars that will support this study are: shape of furniture, the habits of students, the environment and learning space, flexibility and educational model.