Late last year, modulyss issued a design challenge. The brand invited the design community in the UK and abroad to envision a classroom that would support the needs of neurodivergent children. Ten months later, the new space is complete and ready to be explored.
The winning proposal
Talented designers submitted their concepts for a thoughtfully redesigned space for the children at Carden Nursery and Primary School in Brighton, England. The room needed to feature sensory-friendly elements, incorporate flexible furniture and be suitable for children between three to ten years old.
The winning design was created by Elizabeth Loizou and Lucy Rees of Tétris. The neuro-inclusive challenge was close to their hearts, and they were able to draw inspiration and insight from real life examples and situations.
The duo imagined an adaptable room that would meet each child’s needs and enrich how they would experience and interact with the space. As they explained in their design pitch, ‘We did this by creating three types of zones without finite boundaries, so they can become whatever is needed. Most importantly, the function is only meant as a suggestion, so each child can create the type of space they want.’
The result is an intuitive visual layout with three subtle zones – quiet, interactive and reflective. Each area is located around a central enchanted tree and biophilic elements are woven throughout the space to create a soothing connection with nature indoors.
The room features soft flooring in warm, neutral colours and the designers relied on modular carpet tiles to create gentle curves and rounded shapes on the floor. These outlines serve as a subtle hint at the three zones.
Loizou and Rees approached their design through a lens of neurodiversity, with careful consideration for the needs and safety of children with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, dyspraxia and other neurodivergent disorders. Their design is inspired by the five senses and provides children with textured surfaces, soft cushions, secluded cave seating and an array of other ways to regulate from under- or over-stimulation throughout the school day. The designers opted to dress the room in a calming colour palette – yet another intentional choice to keep visual overwhelm at bay.
On an inclusive mission
‘At modulyss, we are driven by a mission to enhance wellbeing – not just for the environment, but for all people,” says Sophie Hautekeete, Head of Marketing for Belysse and its premium brand modulyss. ‘We are passionate about challenging societal norms around neurodiversity, because we recognise the unique insights that neurodivergent individuals have to offer. Their perspectives are invaluable and deserve to be integrated into everything we do. That’s why we’re dedicated to championing neurodiversity in design and sparking important conversations about neuro-inclusivity within the A&D community.’
When spaces and products are designed with neurodiversity in mind, everyone benefits. That’s particularly true for children, whose positive cognitive and emotional development is supported by these informed, intentional design choices. Neuro-inclusive design is by default more creative, more thoughtful and more intuitive to navigate. And that’s what’s so crucial about design through a neurodiverse lens: the resulting designs are ultimately better for all.
Enter the magical forest
The sensory room at Carden Nursery and Primary School is now ready to explore. Discover all the intricate details of this project and lay eyes on the final result of an impactful collaboration. The winning design by Elizabeth Loizou and Lucy Rees of Tétris has been brought to life and is featured in a new blog post on the modulyss website.
For more on modulyss and this design collaboration, please contact Amandine Dermaux via amandine.dermaux@belysse.com
https://modulyss.com/en-INT/blog/neuro-inclusive-haven-for-the-kids-at-carden-nursery-school
