Future-ready spaces

The government is currently leading the widest expansion of childcare in a generation, and recent research from Savilles shows that 1,754 new nursery settings need to be delivered across England to meet the government’s ambition of delivering 1,500,000 new homes in five years. In addition, there are innovative models of providing these settings, from the relaxation of planning rules with Class E, to the aim of delivering new settings in existing schools.

However, these new approaches present challenges to making fit for purpose education spaces. How can a space planned for one use be re-designed to suit a nursery setting? Some might say to install custom, built-in furniture to address the needs for accessible resource storage, lockable staff storage, and toileting provision. But what if this isn’t quite right?
In these new types of spaces, there are new challenges, and overall provision continues to evolve with best practice. Anecdotally, we’ve heard of settings having to rip out built-in furniture because it’s not fit for purpose, as Welton Clement of Community Playthings has heard many times “I talked to a head teacher about classroom storage this week. They had paid for built-in MDF tall storage units with doors down one wall of each classroom, only to discover later that it was too much storage space, and they actually wanted the children to access the materials on the lower shelves. So they have since removed all the doors from the base units, and would like to remove some of the units too, but can’t because they are built-in, making the project too costly.“
As touched on at the start of the article, one of the key benefits of non-built-in furniture, is that it can be re-arranged endlessly with no loss of function. Furniture that is not fixed in place can generally be moved and secured to the wall for safety. It’s also worth noting the difference between flat pack versus fully assembled furniture too, since the ease with which a piece of furniture can be moved or put together can also have benefits and drawbacks. Solid wood not only provides a more environmentally sustainable product but is also what makes furniture robust enough to move and reposition as needed.

This durability also delivers benefits in terms of sustainability, where furniture can be re-purposed and re-used, rather than having to start again. Finally, furniture that is not fixed can often come in cheaper than built-in furniture, since it is less bespoke. It also has lower lifecycle costs by being able to be re-used, and moved from setting to setting. Finally, it may also come under a different budgeting line, and so have greater flexibility, particularly if it is hired rather than purchased outright.


These benefits are the reasons that Hugh McEwen, Director at Office S&M Architects, specifies flexible furniture “Non-fixed furniture can provide a bespoke solution, through product options and customization, while avoiding the pitfalls of built-in furniture. For MEplace KX we found that the clear uses, and flexible arrangement of non-fixed furniture meant that we could progress the look and operation of new spaces in parallel.”
The breadth of non-built-in furniture is increasing all the time, and offers comparable robustness and space optimization to built-in furniture. Of particular note are new lines in wall cupboards and storage systems, which have traditionally been more likely to be built-in. Modular wall cupboards for example, can be used as both storage for nurseries or teaching walls for schools. At the same time, more robust changing tables with integrated storage offer a built-in like product in a movable format. These arrive fully assembled, saving those days of install expected with custom built-ins or flat pack.

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The best way of avoiding the pitfalls of built-in furniture is to engage early in the needs of a space, and discuss with suppliers and designers potential ways of optimizing spaces. From experience and anecdotal evidence, this is where flexible furniture starts to present its benefits. For example, at MEplace KX, the design team led by Office S&M Architects engaged with Community Playthings at an early stage in the design process to tailor the furniture layout and learning areas in parallel. This ensured that design and function went hand in hand, as Vlada Bell, Founder at MEplace explained “Balancing a dedication to sustainability with considerations of operational efficiency was a key part of our work with Office S&M, and our collaboration has allowed us to see our ambitions fully realized. The design perfectly embodies our vision of providing holistic care in a purposeful, inviting space which is true to our values. MEplace KX is an embodiment of our enduring commitment to quality and community. We’ve loved welcoming our children into the space, and we’re excited to carry on our partnership with Office S&M as MEplace continues to grow.”
Overall, collaboration to assess options for non-fixed furniture presents benefits in terms of cost, flexibility, and longevity. This approach gives managers and operators certainty over price, function, and sustainability. By taking this route, costly mistakes can be avoided, and flexible and fit for purpose spaces can be delivered, even in new and unexpected spaces.