A flexible layout for the Ashram College I Gispen

Gispen education project interior view of Ashram College in Alphen aan de Rijn RZ002

The Ashram College in Alphen aan de Rijn moved into a brand new building. The wish: 'A healthy and sustainable building with lots of light and space'. But there was also a challenge. The secondary school had to give up square meters per student. Flexibility wastherefore required, includingin the interior. Gispen provided a sustainable interior that moves with the movement – fromthe entrance hall and classrooms to learning plazas and boardroom.

Flexible, but one look and feel

Ronald de Rooij, then team leader of Facility Services at the Ashram College: 'We wanted to accommodate 1,400 students, but in order to accommodate fluctuations in students, the new building had to be partly flexible. For both the fixed and the flexible part, we were looking for one look and feel.' The architect, Broekbakema, came up with the concept. Gispen brought this to life in the furniture. From student sets to teacher workstations. From the design of the atrium (formerly the auditorium) to that of various learning squares. Ronald: "All office workstations are now equipped with sit-stand solutions. The old furniture that could not be reused was disposed of and recycled by Gispen.'

Eye-catchers

Robert Aret, account manager at Gispen: 'The basis of the new building was fixed. So the type of floor and the colours on the walls were a given for us . In close consultation with Ronald , we connected the furniture to it . Ronald came to have a look at our Inspiration Centre in Arnhem, among other places .' The result? Where the old auditorium could be locked, it is now an open space with different functions. It is a shelter, canteen and traffic area, but can also be converted into a theater hall, for example. The furniture helps with this. Robert: 'There are a number of eye-catchers in the new auditorium : large round poufs in different colours, which several students can lounge on during the break. These are easy to roll away if the school wants to create a different setting.'

Gispen Revived furniture

The student tables are from the Gispen Revived label. Ronald: 'Frames that functioned for years at a school in The Hague have now been given a second life at Ashram College . The frames have been repainted by Gispen and provided with new tops.' The school opted for student chairs from the Match Wood series. Durable, with a natural wooden look. So extremely strong student-proof . And moreover, it can be used flexibly.

Group formation during the break

Aart Korevaar, the current location manager of the Ashram College: 'Your layout is an important part of the group formation process. Especially during breaks. One student wants to be able to play games quietly, the other wants to play games together. Yet another wants to withdraw on his own. That's all possible now. Larger groups often stay in the auditorium, small groups of students are also allowed to use the learning squares as a place of silence.' One wing with twelve classrooms is in use by another school at the time of speaking . Aart: 'In this way we take into account the shrinkage or growth of our school.'

How do you like it?

Ronald: 'I enjoyed the new building for another two months. The completion coincided with the end of my career. What immediately struck me was the enormous noise in the school.' Aart confirms this: 'Both in terms of sound and atmosphere, the building has a lot of peace in it. That's nice, because there is already enough dynamism. Before this, I worked at a university. A secondary school clearly has a different type of user. Here there is really more playing and hanging. That is possible with this design.'

Robert Aret, Account Manager at Gispen

Specialist speaking

'I look back on a great collaboration with the Ashram College. In our Inspiration Center we discussed the different products, after which we were able to fine-tune them . I think a nice, varied interiormix has been created. In addition to robust, durable tables and chairs, we installed various soft seating solutions in the auditorium . There are houses on the learning squares in which students can chill. It's great to see that Ashram College also opted for reuse, with the student tables from Gispen Revived.'

'Thanks to Gispen, we can now use our spaces – from auditoriums to learning squares – flexibly and playfully.'

Aart Korevaar Location manager Ashram College

Aart Korevaar, Location Manager at the Ashram College

Customer testimonial

'At a secondary school, your design isan important part of the group formation process. Especially during the breaks. One student wants to be able to play games quietly, the other wants to play games together. Yet another wants to withdraw on his own. This is all possible in our new building. Gispen has provided a flexible design that allows us to make playful use of both the new auditorium and our learning squares.'