How to design a boarding school that feels like home

According to research, wellbeing is now at the heart of parents' preferences. Seven in ten (69%) Australian parents said they’d change schools if they felt their child was unhappy or not well looked after, compared to just 20% that'd switch for strong academic performance.  

“As soon as parents and students walk through the school gates, the design should immediately give them a sense of the school's core culture. If inclusion and wellbeing is a focus, as I strongly believe it should be, then you need to ask yourself how can we create an environment that embraces and communicates this commitment?” Sasha Titchkosky, Co-Founder and CEO of Koskela, says.  

“This must extend right through classrooms and facilities, to the boarding houses and grounds. Start by thinking of your own home and the care and attention you’ve put into making it a warm and relaxing space. Boarding schools should be no different. To improve student wellbeing, they must encourage children to relax, unwind, and socialise as much as they foster learning and personal development.” 

“We know furniture has the power to transform this experience. It’s the difference between a room feeling unapproachable and uninspiring to feeling welcoming and nurturing. For example, a long sterile cafeteria table feels like a mess hall but congregating around a dining table can encourage conversation and a sense of belonging. Or while socialising after school on a wipe-down plastic chair can feel like an extension of the classroom, reclining on a sofa and ottoman fosters immediate relaxation,” she explains.  

The trick is striking a balance between vibrant collaboration spaces and spots for privacy, study, and reflection. With every student having different and fluctuating preferences, a range of modular furniture is key to ticking as many wellbeing boxes as possible – including adapting spaces for neurodiverse student needs. Koskela furniture is designed to be multi-functional and easily reconfigured, so you can flex each space to fit diverse student needs day-by-day, term-by-term, and year-group-by-year-group without having to reinvest in new pieces.  

Studies have also shown that biophilic design, the practice of connecting people to nature through architecture and design, has a positive impact on wellbeing and engagement in learning and home environments. 

Sasha believes embracing these principles can elevate a boarding school into a home. “The power of nature can’t be underestimated. It can be as small as investing in furniture made with natural materials, or as big as the iconic indoor temperate rainforest at Reggio School in Madrid. In every form, biophilic design can reduce stress and anxiety while enhancing creativity and productivity.” 

Koskela’s range embodies these principles by using natural finishes or finishes that mimic natural products, no straight lines or right angles, non-toxic materials, and colours that reflect nature.  

So, is it as easy as that? Sasha says not quite.  

“The biggest challenge is balancing approachability and comfort with practicalities including maintenance and ESG goals. We’re increasingly seeing schools consider sustainability, repairability, and quality as key factors in their design and procurement process to hit their wider societal objectives,” she explains. 

At Koskela, in line with our industry leading Circularity Action Plan, our focus is on ease of repair, ensuring each piece of our furniture supports a more sustainable world. For example, our Quadrant Soft Single sofas include removable covers so you can refresh them at a lower dollar and carbon cost, reducing carbon consumption by 83.9% when the sofas need a refresh compared to buying a new couch.  

Our local manufacturing capabilities also offer a comprehensive and cost-effective post sales service to keep spaces looking good for as long as possible. Ultimately, hitting your sustainability and maintenance goals – all while creating a space for students that feels like home.  

Reach out to our team at sales@koskela.com.au to hear more about how we help boarding schools reach their objectives and transform the student experience through innovative and sustainable design.