Skip to main content
Article
Ty Gwyn: Documenting the Design of a Special School in Wales
International Journal of Designs for Learning (2013)
  • Julie Elaine N. Irish, University of Minnesota
Abstract
This design case describes the design process used for the development of new special school facilities for children with severe disabilities in Wales, United Kingdom. The lived experience is described from the interior design practitioner perspective. The background to the design of the school is outlined, and the design process and design changes that were made during the build process are detailed. The main features discussed are the toilet areas, hoist lifting system, the way finding and signage system, the hydrotherapy pool, and the wheelchair storage areas. Working relationships with key stakeholders involved in the design process are documented, including the Head Teacher, the staff, students, health professionals, service providers, and suppliers. During the build process, additional examples are provided of positive working arrangements between the project manager and the contractor to resolve design issues. The design case concludes by suggesting that, in this particular case, constant dialogue between all parties involved was a key component of this successful design outcome, in addition to obtaining design input from a variety of sources and flexibility to overcome issues on site. 
Publication Date
2013
DOI
10.14434/ijdl.v4i2.3661
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2013 by the International Journal of Designs for Learning, a publication of the Association of Educational Communications and Technology. (AECT). Permission to make digital or hard copies of portions of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that the copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page in print or the first screen in digital media. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than IJDL or AECT must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted.
Citation Information
Julie Elaine N. Irish. "Ty Gwyn: Documenting the Design of a Special School in Wales" International Journal of Designs for Learning Vol. 4 Iss. 2 (2013)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/julieelaine-irish/2/