Oakland/Berkeley color consultant reveals: It's Elementary, my dear. Elementary.
I am working on a project for a small elementary school in the area, and have been poking around to see if there are any good examples out there of appropriately colored schools.
image source
image sourceDoes no-one ever consider the exterior of a school as contributing to it's image? What about the interior, and how it affects the attitudes of students and teachers?
Here's a excellent example I learned about: Carlin Springs Elementary School in Virginia.
Notice the nice tonal variations used? Middle value brick on the bottom balanced by a lighter peachy tone in the middle, topped by a strip of white. All this warmth is balanced by little bits of green here and there in window shades, awnings, and roofs. A nice cohesive, balanced palette that is pleasing to the eye. 
The school's missions is to strive for excellence. I tip my hat to the architecture firm, who knew that the exterior (and interior!) of this building could help develop that image, promote the school's message, and make a more encouraging, inspiring learning and working environment for students and teachers alike.
image source
The school theme is “Making a World of Difference", and as it serves an international community of children in grades pre-K through 5, this is a nice touch. The building features a “Main Street,” where flags from the native countries of students and their families hang. 40 in all, I've read.
image source
image source
image source
image source
image sourceWhat do you think of the concept? How do you think it was executed? While we're on the topic of schools, and since education is so vitally important for shaping the minds of the next generation, why do you think so little emphasis is placed on nurturing them? From budget cuts for teachers and classes, to the total disregard for physical learning environments, I'd like to hear your thoughts.
Posts
9 comments:
Now that I've discovered your lovely blog I have to comment. There are times when I get a classroom in an area of the college where the decor is still exactly the same as when it was built (in the 70's I'm guessing) bright orange floors and matching doors. With pale creamy walls. It's public money, isn't that why so little care and attention is paid to schools? That's just my guess. I loved the photos of this school, my only comment on the exterior is that the pink terra cotta walk is exactly the same value as the orangy/peachy tone of the building, it looks like they tried to match it but failed.
rachel - i think there are some great design elements to this school. i really like that there is a CONCEPT, first of all. and the wayfinding is done well. not super crazy about some of the color selections. and, does anyone else feel a disconnect between the interior and the exterior? maybe it's just the photos...
for those of you in the bay area, there is an exhibit in sf that just opened with images of 30 newly designed schools in europe. it's put on by swissnex and aia. here's how they describe it:
"School Buildings – The State of Affairs" presents the ever-changing direction of public education and the architectural challenges that come with it. The exhibition runs from January 28 to March 27, 2009.
Today's educators require flexible spaces that can satisfy multiple functions and future demands, enhancing modern teaching as well as a student's personal development. While architecture by itself cannot provide a good education, the environment it creates has an impact on well-being and the ability to learn.
http://www.swissnexsanfrancisco.org/activities/events/AIA_school_buildings
i was going to check it out at some point, but i'm very skeptical. just looking at the one image they are using for promotion scares me!
if you find any more well designed school, please share!
oh - another site that's interesting, for those if you in the ny area, is publicolor.com. not sure how much goes into the actual selection of each color, but the program is amazing!
Maria- i agree that the terra cotta walk way fell short of working. too matchy-matchy.
in regards to public money- i think it's about people's perception of the value of what is important. often times, i think people think design as frivolous, unnecessary trimmings.
Kelly- thanks for the info on the exhibit. i will certainly have to check that out. yeah, i thought there was a disconnect between the exterior and interior, too. but at least there was a concept, as you so astutely mentioned.
rachel - you are so right about the misconception of design being frivolous! what can we do to educate people that it DOES matter?
by the way, what's your project?
So right on, Rachel.
I work for an architecture firm that mainly does schools. The decision makers are fearful that the community will see 'design' as frivolity and a waste of their tax dollars. And school dollars are usually directly related to a local tax increase so the sensitivity is even greater.
Some people are genuinely afraid of color. They don't want to be responsible for a building that lasts 50 years and is the 'wrong color'. Put one of these folks in a capacity of authority and the projectnis toast. Worse yet, some school districts believe they can do the interior color selections themselves and save money. And then one maintenance guy who says he doesn't want to maintain more than one interior paint color. Disaster.
The worst is when the committee decides that using school colors is the safest bet. Aaaaaagh. Awful
In many ways, it's a wonder schools look good at all! And the better examples you see (and the one you have shown) are all the more to be celebrated.
a clarification the COMMUNITY decision makers are fearful about color, I mean. The architects and int. designers I work with are very savvy about the effect of color on educational environments always push for colorful spaces.
Joe- thanks for your comments. it makes me sad that so little is understood by the public about the impact of color on our well-being. but kudos to your firm for pushing for appropriate color. Do they have any examples of schools they've done online anywhere?
You can see examples of my company's work at http://www.kingscott.com/
It shows a variety of results, and I usually choose the most colorful photos (I do the web site). It is what it is. The end product isn't the first option presented.
Post a Comment