Sharjah English School, Sharjah

Pallavi Dean Interiors lead the interior design for a new Early Years (Kindergarten to Year 2) teaching block within Sharjah English School existing grounds, originally built in the 1990’s. The new block is conceived around a shared activity space where the interior is designed to be welcoming, social and secure for parents, teachers and students; focussed on celebrating achievements and diversity. The material approach uses a neutral base palette allowing student artwork to be displayed without competing against, or over stimulating the environment. The colors are used as accents, for orientation and code identification. The space in between the classrooms is not just a corridor, but a flexible light space for exploring, creating and learning.

A modern teaching space with a sense of openness and collaboration, allowing children to ‘free flow’ and explore their own environment in alignment with the British Curriculum teaching style.

Kindergarten Classrooms are linked in two ways to improve efficiency, but also to encourage cross collaborations between the six class groups. The neighbouring classrooms are connected by a shared ‘wet utility zone’ split into WC’s and then a water play/art zone. And then classroom rows are arranged along a central 8 metre wide ‘shared play corridor’. This space is lined with storage and activities that help support the curriculum such as a hideaway play house, a mini stage area and a computer ‘touch down’ pocket. The open play concept helps children to explore and choose their own space for play. Al Serh Al Kabeer Construction contributed in executing the fit out requirements of the facility.

Throughout the space, skylights and sun tunnels were used to bring natural light into the deep corridor. Color is used in accents and reveals to help frame and identify the classroom entrances and play zones.