Until recently, there has been minimal discussion when it comes to the negative effect that noise and excessive reverberation has on the learning process. The cognitive performance of both children and adults is reduced by noise. The ideal classroom should be acoustically friendly for all children regardless of ability and should cater for a range of teaching styles in common practice today.  Good acoustics should be one of the primary design considerations for all new classrooms, and existing buildings should be re-assessed for their acoustic properties. However, there are no Australia-wide regulations or standards that encompass all aspects of the acoustical qualities of educational and training facilities. Whilst the National Construction Code details minimum standards for buildings, it does not provide specific recommendations for educational facilities.

The performance of a Reflective blind depends on which film is used, the more reflective the blind film the more effective the blind.

Glare Reduction: better than most sun glasses, Reflective blinds reduce glare by between 90% and 97%.

Fade Protection: Ultra violet rays of the sun are like the noisiest kid in the class, they get all the blame.

In reality though they only do about 55% of the damage. Reflective Blinds® films stop more than 99% of the U.V. rays. This together with about 93% to 97% of the visible rays, and at least 80% to 90% of the infrared rays from the sun will increase the life of furniture and furnishings by a factor of 8 to 10. This means that if carpets take four years to fade to a certain point with no protection at all, that they will take between 32 and 40 years to degrade to the same degree when protected by Reflective Blinds®.

Winter Warmth: Reflective blinds will reduce winter heat loss by up to 45%, depending on how they are installed.

Day time Privacy: Reflective blinds work like a one way mirror during the day giving excellent day time privacy. There is a security element to this in that you cannot see in through a Reflective blind during the day, or at night when the lights are turned off.

Washable: Although some users never need to clean their Reflective blinds, they can be cleaned. With care even paint spatters can be removed without harm.

Reflective blinds are tough, durable and sun rot resistant.

The Year 7 and 8 center is the first of a number of projects being completed by Smith & Tracey Architects for Thomas Carr College. The dynamic architecture – moving walls between classrooms, connections to the outside – depict a non-traditional way of learning.

“This project is seen as the first building of our masterplan for the school to allow for its foreseen future growth”, explains Smith & Tracey project lead architect Stasinos Mantzis. Founded in 1997, the current school is a mix of permanent and temporary classroom buildings. The newly built Year 7 and 8 center seeks to replace some of these temporary classrooms which were required due to rapid growth in student numbers as well as envelope over and around the existing science laboratory building on the site. “Apart from meeting the functional requirements of the brief, we wanted to design a building which expressed the aspirations of the school’s future and position within this new suburb as a public building”, explains Mantzis.

Smith & Tracey has extensive experience in the educational sector and providing future-proof design solutions adaptable to evolving trends in pedagogy in Australia. This particular building incorporates the recently completed existing labs to create twenty additional flexible classrooms, large breakout areas, a demonstration kitchen, offices and student facilities. These programs are designed in a horseshoe arrangement around a sun-filled, circular outdoor gathering space. “The building underwent an evolutionary process, testing and discarding many form-making techniques”, the architect says. Each stage of the process was documented with 3D renderings to result in a determined and functional building. What also became clear from these discussions was the need to develop a dynamic architecture that would engage the students with the built environment and challenge them that there might be more independent ways of learning.

This challenge became articulated in the very form of the building with the language of its external folding components, sharp angles and saw- tooth roof and internal patterns, colours and shapes. The challenge also produced many of what have become Mantzis’ favourite aspects of the design, including the timber amphitheatre in the main breakout space. The ambition of the project was to “express the fluid way in which education and information can be accessed through non-traditional means.” This resulted in innovative ways in which the classrooms are used and connected to each other, the circulation areas and gardens outside. For example, through operable walls between classrooms the building can accommodate the teaching of small groups, and large glass sliding doors allow for individual learning areas to be opened onto the adjoining common areas and exterior courtyard. “The early involvement of students on influencing the design has been a success in engaging them with the built environment and giving them a strong sense of ownership for the building,” Mantzis explains.

In addition to the functional and desirable requirements of the brief, the architect had to take the environmental conditions into consideration. In a region susceptible to drought, the architect installed 50,000 litres of underground rainwater tanks for irrigation and toilet flushing, used highly insulated precast panels for the walls, inserted clerestory windows in all first level learning areas for cross-ventilation and natural light and chose high insulating windows with low-e glass to reduce heat transfer and increase performance.

The fabricator MSF was key to the latter and was contacted in the early stages as standard local glazing systems did not meet the required energy ratings. It took a creative approach not to compromise the design by employing systems it had not used before. Guido Nobile of MSF explains: “Issues such as incorporating different cladding were overcome in consultation with the architect. Our careful planning and experienced employees took the project as a personal challenge.” “With Reynaers’ products we could achieve the level of glazing needed to provide light, ventilation and comfort to the classrooms”, the architect adds.

Flexible Properties of Space Fluidity represents the design of space for flows of individuals, sight, sound, and air. As stated by Caudill, open spaces lend themselves to fluidity, yet can hinder fluidity if they are oppressive in their expansiveness. In such cases well-placed screens in classrooms, for example, can increase a sense of intimacy while triggering curiosity for the space that flows around the screen (Caudill 1954: 137). Such a space then becomes more engaging and less overwhelming. Such fluidity also allows for versatility and convertibility in to multi-purpose rooms. Educators must often convert spaces to accommodate for changes in enrolment, curriculum, or pedagogy. Space designed for convertibility requires an imagination for future eventualities; it should possess a degree of modularity and open-endedness at a structural level which is open to re-design for future modifications. Leggett et al, discuss modifiable spaces as spaces that invite imaginative experimentation. The design of such spaces requires much forethought, because these spaces must take into account many structural dependencies such as ceiling configuration for lighting and air circulation, and floor materials for ease of partition movement. (Leggett et al. 1977: 104-6).

Modern education requires openness, transparency and flexibility. The forms of learning have changed. Multimedia and experience-oriented learning are making new demands of the design of teaching centers, institutes and schools. That which was once a classroom is now a multi-functional room which must constantly adapt to other teaching styles and group sizes at any time.

Flexible design elements which can be pushed into the foreground when they are needed and disappear when other media need to be used can be moved quickly and easily to the right place either manually or electronically using sliding technology. Sliding solutions for the education area create the space for flexible and open learning. This makes learning fun, and leads to success.

Hand hygiene should be rigorously monitored and performed at regular intervals, especially arrival at school, before eating or drinking, after using the toilet; after playing outdoors; when hands are physically dirty, and after coughing or sneezing. It is recommended that hand sanitizer dispensers be installed more readily at exit and entry points of schools and classrooms under the supervision of an adult in primary school or for students with special needs.

Bathrooms accommodating toilet facilities provide a route for all known transmission pathways of Covid-19 through exposure to air and surfaces. It is not unusual for public toilets to ‘contain the highest density of people within the smallest amount of real estate’ (Poland, 2020). Toilets in theatres, schools, restaurants, bars, shopping centres and sports facilities, in particular, may experience short periods of very heavy use. These facilities are considered important public infrastructure since they are vital for the maintenance of accessible, sustainable and comfortable urban spaces (Greed, 2004). Contamination through heavy use of toilets could present a far greater risk than indoor transmission in a public venue because there are additional risks from the production of urinary and faecal aerosol.

Access for all Bathroom design needs to ensure that all segments of the population are able to follow good hygiene practices (Panek et al., 2005). This dictates signage, door, tap and handle placement, space for wheelchairs, accessible towel dispensers, contactless (sensor) flush and taps, revolving or automatic access doors and electronic hand hygiene reminders if possible. Toilets frequented by children and/or the elderly should be subject to additional design strategies, given that these persons are either going to be more vulnerable to Covid-19, or more likely to be shedding the virus.

Teaching and learning has changed and will continue to change, and it is therefore important that the spaces within which we learn change accordingly to represent different pedagogies. For example Steiner, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and specialized schools to name a few, or schools who choose to teach STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics in an interdisciplinary or integrated approach).

Colour also plays a key role in creating an environment that fosters learning. According to Dr Robert Gerard, colour is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum which can affect neurological pathways in the brain, and a result can create a biochemical response. Therefore, using the right colour along with good placement choices can seriously affect the feelings, attention and behaviour of students when learning.

Creating a stimulating environment can be achieved through the effective use of design and colour, and forms an integral part of an environment conducive to learning, memory retention, and concentration.

At the exact spot where the colonial settlement of Australia began, the Harrington Collection—a series of brand-new harbourside apartments—has been built. The curved sliding elements on the facade attract immediate attention. They are the brainchild of the architects at fjmtstudio, who worked in close cooperation with Hawa Sliding Solutions, ICON and Windtech to turn them into reality. Sometimes all it takes to change one’s view of the world is the push of a button. In the penthouse apartments of the Harrington Collection, the sliding shutters open to reveal a breathtaking panorama: the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay—Sydney monuments which are among the world’s treasures. The Harrington Collection project comprises 58 distinctive residences in the historic Rocks district. With its sliding shutters in a terracotta and sandstone hues, the new building blends harmoniously into the cityscape. “The neighborhood embodies the heart of Sydney. This is the historic location where colonial settlement began. For that reason, we have to respect the conditions imposed by the regulators for the protection of historical monuments,” says the project team at fjmtstudio, the award-winning architectural firm that is in charge of the development: “Our building combines cultural heritage with the beauty of the harbor landscape and modernity.”

And what a challenge!
Take a closer look at the decorative sliding shutters that characterize the building’s facade. “Our objective was to camouflage the two top floors with sliding shutters as a single unit,” explain the architects: “They need to function as a continuation of the roof shape and blend in with the surrounding terraces.”

To do this, we were looking for individual, automated panels with curved corners. At that point, the construction contractors ICON, who were already working with consultants Windtech, brought in Hawa Sliding Solutions. Early on, experts from Windtech, ICON and Hawa Sliding Solutions were sitting around a table: “My first reaction was: Wow, what a fabulous building! And my second: Wow, what a challenge!” recalls Mark Micallef, National Brand Manager for Hawa Sliding Solutions in the Australia Pacific region. Because in fact there was no off-the-shelf system that would meet these specifications. It quickly became apparent that a customized solution was needed—and that this would pose a real challenge to the experts at Hawa Sliding Solutions.

Interdisciplinary meetings once a week
It took Hawa Sliding Solutions a few weeks to come up with a proposal that almost entirely met the exact design requirements. Technically, it is based on the Hawa Frontslide 60 Matic and Hawa Aperto 60 H sliding hardware. “At that stage, we found that it was not possible to bend some of the sliding shutters as tightly as we had intended, without compromising their operation,” says Micallef.

So ICON and Windtech called the first of a series of weekly meetings and analyses with the architectural team from fjmtstudio, Stephen Hubbard and Daniel Boesen Nolan. “We worked together to get to the desired shape—with meticulous attention to detail until all parties were convinced by the design. This intense type of collaboration is quite unique in the fast-paced Australian construction industry,” says Micallef.

Two prototypes under test
But design is not the whole story. It was essential to ensure the full functionality of the sliding shutters over the life-cycle of this prestigious building. So the interdisciplinary team built two complete prototypes and subjected them to exacting tests at a certified testing facility in Melbourne. “In the end, thanks to the drawings and the scrupulous planning of the design, the installation of the sliding shutters went very smoothly.” Nolan emphasizes: “Hawa Sliding Solutions helped us realize our vision.”

The construction of the Harrington Collection was completed in October 2021. The lucky residents can look forward to a visual journey, taking them from the city precinct to Sydney’s skyline and the sea—or to relaxing in total peace and quiet—all at the touch of a button.

UCD Agile Offices in Ardmore Annex were designed to create flexible, fun and innovative workspaces. Typically, when a space gets smaller it also gets darker; the main challenge here was always to maintain an optimal level of light within the workspaces, whether the wall is open or closed. Hufcor’s Type 100K walls were installed with bright white, high-gloss magnetic markerboard providing an acoustic rating of 39dB. The surface can therefore be used by all students and becomes part of the room concept.

A curtain of brown aluminum profiles surrounds the top story of the multifamily residence in Diepoldsau. Folding sliding shutters allow the residents to open the curtain to suit their needs.

The Villa Savoye, built in 1931 by Le Corbusier in Poissy near Paris, is considered to be a radical counter-design to the rigid construction style of the time. The support structure of columns, glazing and floor slabs is completely detached from the facade and partition walls that merely provide a secondary bracing. The concept served as an inspiration to the architects Dominik Hutter and Thomas Nüesch when they designed the multi-family residence in Zwinghofstrasse in Diepoldsau. There are a number of similarities between the two-story building with seven apartments and the Villa Savoye: accessibility via the building’s axis, a reduced load-bearing structure, a virtually floating top story, columns on the ground floor and generous glazing.

It inspired the two architects to create a special facade design. Panels of perforated aluminum sheeting stained brown surround the upper half of the building like a curtain. They protect the rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows from unwanted attention and from sunlight whilst establishing a relationship with the surrounding area: the brown tone reflects the color of the surrounding roofs. The idea of the curtain was implemented with an eye for consistence. It can be moved to one side wherever the residents want daylight and views to the outside. This is made possible by 46 folding sliding shutter packets, each with four elements measuring 48 centimeters in width and 3.5 meters in height. Running on Hawa Frontfold 20 hardware, they are guaranteed to provide consistently good sliding and folding behavior.

The Radisson Blu London Stansted Airport hotel features 500 rooms for business and leisure travelers and offers a large conference centre, hosting up to 600 delegates. In 2018 the hotel decided to enhance their guests experience with refurbishments to different areas of the hotel.  Hufcor was specified to replace older fatigued folding walls and an existing fixed wall in the conference area with three new Hufcor Type 100, 54dB movable walls to create a larger flexible more functional space. A mix of white and grey colours were chosen to complement the new interior design.

The primary challenge was to reduce onsite installation time to a minimum so the two replacement walls were installed first, maintaining the usability of the function suite and the new front wall was installed a few weeks later in a period of three days for both tracks and panels, whilst coordinating with the structural steel installers.

The result is one of the largest modern conference facilities in Essex.