This is in direct contrast to the mainline UK educational market, where ‘discrete' furniture products are added to existing assortments.
(The term ‘discrete product' is defined as a stand-alone product designed for a specific purpose. For example, a four drawer filing cabinet stores papers well in suspended pockets; however it cannot easily be adapted to store alternative filing material. Another example is the cantilevered desk. It is perfectly functional if all you ever need to do is to sit in front of it, however, because of its end framing and integral structural modestly panel, it cannot be adapted to become a meeting table or a table within a team working area.)
As the UK Educational furniture market is not traditionally system based, innovative ‘discrete' products are added to existing product assortments, rather than being developed from within an existing system.
It is recognised that the BSF programme may be innovative in terms of architectural expression, but that it is lacking in new solutions for interiors, especially in teaching areas. There appears to be too much replacing ‘old' with ‘like for like' new products. Therefore the old, traditional thinking continues to prevail in many projects, with traditional classrooms and circulation routes dominating the new provision.
Clearly, even though it may take longer to evolve new teaching methods, it is imperative that educational furniture should be ‘future proof', otherwise the furniture may become obsolete, or no longer 'fit for purpose', as future layouts evolve. The architecture will be long-term and flexible, so the furnishing must also be.
So how does this work at Kinnarps?
All products are modularly compatible, based on a 200mm planning unit, allowing storage to be linked to tabling. Also table heights are compatible with storage units so tops of cabinets become an extension of the workspace.
Tabling comes in a variety of interlocking shapes and sizes and table framing allows for linking, thus a pupil's desk can become a meeting table or a work bench in the future, as legs can be removed to provide continuous access along the benching.
Table legs are user height-adjustable to suit varying ages/statures. Also table legs are interchangeable, so that higher table legs can be substituted to provide standing benching for drop in areas. Alternatively tables can be provided with castors to create mobile furniture.
Storage works in a similar way, with modular box construction allowing additional units to be clipped into place as demands change. This is based on the ‘Lego brick' principle. The box construction allows for a wide variety of inserts to suit all storage requirements including multi-media CDs/DVDs.
Finishes can be selected to suit the demands of different activities, however the alternative finishes are designed to be visually compatible and hence harmonise throughout the project. This is highly beneficial when furniture comes to be moved about at a later date.
Task seating is designed to strict ergonomic principles and the ease of adjustment for users is paramount. For example, pupil's chairs can be adjusted to suit varying heights by the inclusion of simple integral footrests.
There is a growing realisation in the UK that we are sentencing our children to poor posture and back problems arising from the generally poor ergonomic design of UK products. As the largest commercial furniture manufacturer in northern Europe, Kinnarps sits firmly in the tradition of providing comprehensive ergonomic solutions for all situations.
Seating is also designed in ‘families' so that a classroom solution, say using the Scala range, with swivel and height adjustable options can also have upholstered seat or back and multiple options for arms. As a result they can be used throughout the school, bringing a unifying sense into the design whilst recognising the particular functions of each area.
The requirement for ‘life time learning' is a major design consideration and here again the Kinnarps system approach brings major benefits. As the furniture is adjustable, adult learning can be accommodated on this same furniture without the need for special facilities.
In all areas of the school the Kinnarps education range is underpinned by the main Kinnarps Office, Premium and Care ranges providing a wealth of options for all areas of the project. This provides total solutions for reception, staff rooms, management and administration areas within the school, as well as offering comprehensive solutions for ITC, training and media suites.
A ‘Scandinavian' solution is also provided through Kinnarps for specialist teaching areas, such as science, design/technology and libraries.
A comprehensive set of solutions is also offered for cloak and locker rooms.
Our in house design teams and account managers are trained to support end users, BSF contractors, and design and FFE consultants in the selection of the most appropriate application of our product ranges.
Throughout the life of the furniture, the installation will be serviced and adapted, when requested, by our own directly employed, UK Service Teams. At the end of the furniture's useful life, we can arrange to dispose of your furniture using environmental and socially acceptable means through out partner company, Green Standards.
