Good design isn’t a privilege only for the art and design sector or those who can afford it. Innovative, aesthetic and functional design should be enjoyed by everyone. Where better to start promoting this spirit of good design than in schools, a place where many will spend their formative years.
Clifton Leung Design Workshop has been active in promoting good design among students for many years. The design firm even worked on a makeover project for a local secondary school to help improve its students’ learning and wellbeing.
Known for its focus on innovation and learning beyond classrooms, CCC Tam Lee Lai Fun Memorial Secondary School got in touch with Clifton a few years back when it decided to rejuvenate several spaces to inspire its students. While the public school, which is located in Tuen Mun, had a limited budget, Clifton was able to tap into his imagination to find cost-friendly ways to revamp the school.
One of the main features of the project is the Clifton Learning Commons, a room designed to support students’ after-school learning. In the space, students can revise their schoolwork, explore other interests and forms of learning, and also engage in discussions with other schoolmates. There is also a teacher on site to provide help when needed. In order to create a space that inspires students and one that they actually want to visit, Clifton came up with the idea of a more relaxed environment in the school setting. To do so, he focused on bringing the outdoors in.
Taking advantage of the large windows, which allowed a lot of natural light in, he introduced many green features. These include an artificial grass carpet running across the room, potted plants and a lot of recycled wood. While the carpet is made of artificial grass, it has the texture of real grass, making it both hygienic and comfortable for students to sit on or lie down. This creates a relaxed mood where students can freely exchange ideas. For the partitions and decoration, Clifton recycled wooden pellets, which gave the space a rustic feel.
To create a cosy atmosphere, Clifton transformed a mattress into a comfortable sofa and provided an unconventional form of seating with tyres. These tyres can function as both tables and chairs, and can be moved around easily so students can gather in groups of different sizes for discussions or be on their own to do some individual work.
Another highlight of the school project is the CL3 05 Learning Support Centre, a multi-purpose room for meetings and functions. It also serves as a homely environment where students can pick up skills for daily tasks, such as making breakfast and coffee.
In designing this room, Clifton focused on acquiring and upcycling many pre-loved items. Not only is this cost-friendly, it also sets a good example for students to treat items and the environment with respect. Various Coca Cola plastic carriers have been transformed chairs, which can be moved around easily with their wheels. Meanwhile, wine storage boxes were assembled into a one-of-a-kind display shelf. Clifton also wanted to create an eclectic mood for this room, reflecting the different personalities of students and staff who may enter. He did so by contrasting the rustic mood of the room with an antique Chinese table. The table was then juxtaposed against a simple but custom-made display piece containing the school’s initial made with cork boards and CDs.
“Working within your budget can be tricky when it comes to school projects, but this doesn’t mean we can’t create a good design without good budget. In fact, having this ‘disadvantage’ promotes more creativity. It also serves as a precious lesson for students to appreciate our environment more,” says Clifton.