ROUND UP
ALTROis natural leader in biophilic design for Edinburgh schools
St Margaret’s School
so we know it won’t wear out or need replacing for many years to come. “The children love their new space, and they
are so excited to have played a huge role in its concept and design. I would recommend this Altro flooring to anyone who is looking to create a lovely warm, flexible work and play area for children.” Altro Wood Safety Comfort was the flooring of
choice at the recent refurbishment project at Murrayburn Primary School, as Lesley explains. “Here we used Altro’s Wood Safety Comfort flooring throughout to not only deliver the same biophilic principles as St Margaret’s, but to also maximise comfort underfoot and address the acoustic needs of the space and reduce noise. “This project was the refurbishment of a multi-
use room at the school that adjoined a community kitchen, so its needs were many - it had to be flexible and cater for all ages as a classroom, community space and somewhere for families too.” Leanne Hepburn, Head Teacher at Murrayburn
A
ltro is working closely with City of Edinburgh Council to enhance learning environments in
schools by using the principles of biophilic design to increase wellbeing, calm and improve learning. Interior designer at City of Edinburgh Council,
Lesley McMillan, has worked with Altro for a number of years, and has recently completed a number of school projects using Altro’s Wood Safety range to help ‘bring the outside in’. Her belief in the benefits of biophilic design is at the heart of her work with schools. “Biophilic design brings the beauty and colour
of nature into the built environment,” says Lesley. “Research has shown that we need to connect with nature and that exposure to it lowers stress, elevates mood, creates a relaxed feeling and improves cognitive function. “This also applies very strongly to learning
environments, such as schools, where we have seen that by introducing visual and tactile references to nature — such as patterns, colours, flooring and motifs — we can positively impact on children’s physiological and psychological behaviour, overall mood and capacity to learn. We know they are happier and more productive in this type of environment. “This is why I have been using Altro Wood
Safety flooring for our primary schools projects. Altro’s floor and wall systems give designers freedom and possibilities. They recognise and understand the benefits of incorporating natural themes into spaces such as schools and hospitals, and their forward-thinking attitude and excellent research is in line with what we want to achieve.” Lesley has used flooring from the Altro range
for two recent school projects. “St Margaret’s School, in South Queensbury,
Edinburgh, was a fascinating project where we used Altro Wood Safety throughout. It was the refurbishment of a wing at the school, for children aged four to nine. “As part of Scotland’s ‘Schools for the Future’
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www.education-today.co.uk February 2019
scheme, we wanted to totally engage the children in the interior design at St Margaret’s, to create a childlike design with them and build a space that was the product of their imagination. Teachers and children were all involved, and they visited schools, offices and many other spaces to develop ideas.” Head teacher at St Margaret’s, Katy Westacott,
said: “We are really pleased with the Altro flooring in the school. Aesthetically it’s a lovely looking surface; very natural and rustic, and Lesley chose the perfect shades to create a warm, homely feel. “The floor brings the character of the space to
life and brings nature indoors. Using the flooring to represent the deck of the ship and the cave was a stroke of genius by Lesley, it adds such an authentic feel. “The surface also gives us great flexibility to use
the space for a number of activities; we can move furniture, use rugs, and can consider a wet play area too — very adaptable. Cost was also key for us, and this is such a robust and durable flooring,
Murrayburn Primary School
Primary School, is delighted with her new space. “It is being used on a daily basis by both adults and children and the overall feeling is that the flooring helps creates a very grand and special atmosphere. “People behave differently in here because of
the feel; they talk more softly, walk more slowly and generally behave better. The school is 80 years old, but this hub gives the school a new lease of life. From an acoustic and comfort point of view the flooring works very well. The children use it as a library space, so it’s very much a quiet place to read and reflect. They are more than happy to take their shoes off and walk on the floor, because it’s so comfortable. They would never do that in the gym! “We have seen first-hand how the right
flooring can completely transform the personality and functionality of a room. Introducing natural themes into the school has brought calmness and there is a very different, positive mindset among pupils. Lesley McMillan has done a wonderful job in creating this for us.”
uwww.altro.co.uk
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