Improving Interior Learning Spaces in Preschool Through 7 Spatial Layers: A Case Study of The Creative Kid Preschool in HCMC, Vietnam
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Abstract
As one of four important elements of human development, school plays an important role in children’s holistic growth. Preschool children spend most of their time in the indoor environment compared to other environments, especially, in the classroom where they learn through discovering and exploring the surrounding environment.Interior learning space, therefore, exerts a significant impact on children’s developmental needs and designers should be aware of the importance of indoor spatial components for preschool children. The primary aim of this study is to explore a conceptual framework for understanding key factors in interior design for preschool classrooms in responding to children's development. The study constructs a conceptual framework for the interior design of preschool classrooms to emphasize the interconnected relationship between interior architectural space, preschool children, and pedagogy through exploring and understanding important spatial variables. The paper focuses on preschool classrooms for children from 3 to 6 years old. This paper employs grounded theory to adjust the interior spatial layers, utilizing existing literature and design documentation, and visual analysis to interpret and to analysis the spatial aesthetics and design elements. The scope of this research is to establish a framework for a pilot study that describes the existing environment of The Creative Kid Preschool in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and analyzes how the application of seven interior spatial layers links to pedagogical practices and supports children's development through observation and interviews with educators. The outcomes of this study have valuable insights for interior designers, architects, educators, and preschool teachers, and for parents who care about children's space design, providing them with a deeper understanding of the young children's learning environment. In future research, the conceptual framework of design for preschool classroom interior space and concept of 7 interior spatial layers can be a guideline for user application and it can be developed by conducting experimental methods on each variable to examine in response to children’s development adapting to socio-cultural, environment and time context.
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