Client projects: STOCKHOLM SCIENCE AND INNOVATION SCHOOL

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION

Stockholm Science and Innovation School is housed in the modern building known as 'Nod' in the Kista district of Stockholm. The space is also home to many other technology companies too, who share these spectacular premises, which ooze technical innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. The location is ideal given that technology and innovation are what the school is all about. When Stockholm Science and Innovation School was first established, the vision was for collaboration with industry and digitalisation – plus building a school for its time and for the future.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

The school's premises are new and purpose-built. Over the entire process, from the first sketches to the completed school building, it was important for all decisions, both big and small, to be working towards the same goal the whole time so that the building would turn out as intended. The school is not in a conventional school building, so many conventions regarding how a school should look and be were thrown out of the window when the work was being carried out. In this case, it was important to support the school's vision with the interior design. There was a certain confidence that together we would be able to find good, exciting solutions. Kinnarps was given the freedom to think outside the box for the standard school furniture. We collectively tried out different ideas and solutions from activity-based offices, with the aim being to create an environment that the pupils want to be in.

We have always strived to create interior design solutions that give people the option to mingle, meet and think, but also, of course, to create spaces for studying in peace and for group work. There is a clear focus with our interior design - the furniture needs to be a nice experience. The aim we had in mind when designing the school's interior was to create an environment that is a little reminiscent of home.

ROOMS WITHIN A ROOM

The 'Nod' building that houses the school has unique architecture, plus many natural meeting places; it also uses several types of flexible office solutions, such as hotspots and shared spaces. A number of established technology companies, brand new start-ups, and everything in between, work from the building. Kista is often referred to as the Swedish 'Silicon Valley', so it is the perfect location for a school with such a close relationship to technology companies to continue its successful ties with industry.

The school's interior has been designed to prepare its pupils for working life and, above all, for the IT industry. For this reason, it was extra important to seek inspiration from activity-based offices. For example, a decision was made to put traditional conference tables in the computer room and have different heights of tables in the classrooms so that the pupils themselves could choose what suits them. In the corridors, there are also a lot of different environments customised for a variety of activities.

The school gave thought to the ergonomics and chose tables with a variety of sitting heights, with a few high and a few low tables in every classroom. Xact, which is ideal for school environments, was the chair chosen for the low tables. It is lightweight, robust and has many functions and settings. All the settings make it a great choice for the secondary school, whose pupils vary enormously in terms of height. Xact encourages movement and an 'active' kind of sitting.

The school does not regard the interior design as something that is permanent and 'set in stone' either. The teachers are free to try different solutions in their classrooms for special projects or during certain teaching periods too, so that the furniture helps with the teaching and does not restrict it. In this case, the school has the chance to continue developing its activities and its collaboration with industry, and do so with a focus on digital knowledge.