International School of Havana

‘The team at FG were very supportive of our international context and were willing to engage with us through online meetings and site visits to ensure the end result had high impact. It was clear to us that our school’s needs were a high priority for the design team and the plan they delivered was exciting, bold and exactly what we hoped for.

Havana is an extremely challenging context to design for and work in; FG supported us every step of the way to ensure we had a modern, bright, bold Library that has truly engaged our community'.

Georgie Schofield, Principal of Lower School

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Brief

FG Library & Learning were invited to design a new library within a refurbished space in the Lower School site at the International School of Havana, Cuba.

The brief required the space to cater for three distinct areas by age group; 3-6yrs, 7-11yrs and a teenage study and chill out space. Each area had its own criteria, the younger years areas needed to be bright and inviting, whilst offering various areas for quiet and group reading, while the teenage space needed to provide a study area for twenty students with space for relaxed reading.

Across the project, a WOW factor was wanted to entice the students to the new space and encourage reading for pleasure.

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Solution

After multiple video conferences and a finalised layout plan was agreed, a member of the FGLL team went over to Havana to conduct a finishes work shop, discuss the plans for the project and carry out an indepth site survey.

FGLL proposed various WOW factors within the design that would offer numerous areas for the students to enjoy, whilst maintaining adequate space for book stock and display. Our popular StoryWall® was bought to life with graphics and the bespoke Treehouse was an instant hit with both staff and students!

Landscape shelving, Elements display and Bookworm Kinderboxes housed the schools brand new collection of books. Various areas of soft seating, including our Jigsaw range, are located around the library along with study tables and seating. Graphics are integrated into the furniture and the vacant wall spaces. Modular study tables within the teenage space offer flexibility with the option to reconfigure the layout when required. The work tops are dry-wipeable enabling a hands on, modern approach to learning.

As a final WOW factor, FGLL installed a funky carpet layout to compliment the furniture design - the first carpet within the school! All products supplied on this project were manufactured in the United Kingdom and expertly packaged and protected prior to shipment to Cuba.

Once all goods had arrived at the school, FGLL sent a team of carpet and furniture fitters to install the furniture, completing a fantastic project that has led to rave reviews from students, staff and parents alike.

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International School of Havana

Brief

Solution

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