The Lawn Collaborative

The Lawn is a collaborative community centric space. Drawing from the idea of children playing in their front lawn, the concept for this space is to create a feeling of neighborhood,  Designed to be flexible, this space can be adapted for a variety of uses.  This lawn is the center of the elementary neighborhood that is created by its placement at the center of four associated classrooms. This plan allows for adjacent grades within the area to have social interaction while using the space. This space also allows for more open movement throughout the school day. The space is designed with Nana-Wall folding doors on the front facing side of each classroom. The lawn can act both as a continuation of the classroom and  as a completely separate space entirely. This diversity in use allows for greater variety in teaching opportunities and learning throughout the school day. This movement and variety in learning is helpful in managing children with ADHD and hyperactive tendencies because it allows them to release energy in small amounts and forces them to develop skills that help them refocus throughout the day. The lawn helps to increase health and wellness within the school by promoting a more active school day as well as nurturing the connection to the outdoors. The abundance of natural light through use of glass walls and partitions, as well as references to nature through use of material, helps to create a biophilic design. The lawn in a key feature in the school as it acts as the center hub of the space.