Client projects: Campus Dalsland

Project facts

Client:
Campus Dalsland

Location:
Bäckefors, Sweden

Area:
600 square metres

Floors:
1

Number of students and staff:
approx. 100

Architect:
Contekton Arkitekter

Completed:
Start of autumn term 2023

Professional study environment with a feeling of home

The vision was to create a welcoming and homely atmosphere for the students. This is what Kristina Sandström, Operations Manager at Campus Dalsland, says. “Kinnarps listened and has realised our vision of a professional and homelike study environment in a way that is sustainable for the long term,” she says.

Campus Dalsland is a local campus located in Bäckefors that offers study opportunities in collaboration with universities and colleges. The aim is to raise the area’s level of education and contribute to the supply of skills in Dalsland.

"Proximity to universities and colleges is one of the deciding factors for whether people choose to continue their studies or not. In fact, all higher education institutions primarily recruit locally, including the large and established ones. With our decentralised operations, we give people and businesses in the region better access to knowledge and education," says Sandström.

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The inviting Crest sofa meets the Petite coffee table and Cobble pouffe in the entryway. The Uni table and Frisbee stool create a perfect place to work on a short school assignment or take a break between lectures.

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The square, one of the school’s large common areas, has several uses. The Neo Lite chair on castors and the Vagabond table make it easy to customise the interior. The high backs of the Fields sofa create rooms within the room where you can work more privately, whether alone or in a group.

The campus is an initiative by the municipalities of Dalsland, with financial support from the Västra Götaland region. It is housed in newly renovated premises that used to be a staff canteen and kitchen in a hospital building. It is now home to everything from an inviting entrance and canteen to classrooms, separate study areas and staff rooms.

"We have placed great emphasis on creating a study environment with an extra touch, a place that students long for, where they want to spend as much time as possible. The teaching method is based on students actually being here and studying, as this increases quality and throughput," says Sandström.

Along one of the walls in the square we find the Fields table, which together with the Frisbee stool forms a space-efficient meeting space.

The safe, homely atmosphere of the interior design does not mean that it compromises on functionality or the impression of seriousness. “No, quite the contrary. It is important that the working environment feels professional and well thought-out to signal to our students that this is serious,” says Sandström. She continues: "This also means that we have chosen durable, quality furniture that we can live with for a long time or renovate and add to when necessary. But we do it our way by combining a public environment with harmonious, soft, calm and inviting elements."

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The height-adjustable Elevate student desk is used here as a work surface for a presenter, for example.

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One of the group rooms features the height-adjustable Leia chair with castors, which encourages movement enabling students to concentrate for longer.

The nature of operations requires the 600 square metre premises to be flexible and versatile. "Everything is planned and made such that it can be changed and used in many different ways. There are no dead spots here. All spaces are easy to rearrange and much of the furnishings have castors to increase flexibility. We have to think smart. For example, in my office I have a conference table instead of a desk, so it can also be used as a meeting room," says Sandström.

Hybrid teaching also places special demands on the classrooms, which need to be functional for on-site students and the online lecturer alike. A challenge in terms of acoustics, lighting and the inclusion of all students in the educational environment.

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“There is a lot to consider when creating hybrid solutions, and here we have had great help from Kinnarps’ long experience of different study environments and their well-thought-out, customised range.”

Kristina Sandström, Operations Manager for Campus Dalsland

In the hybrid classrooms, the Origo student desk stands together with the Leia chair. Both tables and chairs have two different heights so that everyone can see each other well, whether participating remotely or in person.

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In the canteen we find the Neo Lite chair and the Oberon table in an eye-catching colour scale. The Vagabond table paired with the Frisbee stool creates variation in the interior design by offering a slightly higher seat height.

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For tasks that require focused collaboration, group rooms are the optimal environment. Curtains contribute to good overall ergonomics by improving the acoustic environment, disseminating daylight throughout the room and removing the distraction of people moving outside.

Kristina Sandström believes that the collaboration between the property owner Västfastigheter, the architects Contekton and Kinnarps was crucial to the success of the result. Based on the campus’ logo, for example, a colour scale was developed that then reappears through all colour choices on both walls and in the interior design with the purpose of ensuring a coherent whole.

"We have limited space and, of course, a limited budget, so it’s especially important to do everything right from the start – from the overall idea to attention to every detail. Here, Kinnarps’ expertise and sense of service have been invaluable. This is a long-term holistic solution that gives our students the best conditions for success." 

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