Ekonomikum Study Halls

Ekonomikum at Uppsala University, the most prestigious university in Sweden founded in 1477, has been provided with two new study halls. The objective was to create, with a minimum of compromises, an environment offering the best conditions for: - Individual learning with analogue and digital tools - Reflection, processing and contemplation - Collaborative learning with analogue and digital tools - Social interaction as a means and result of learning - Focused quality conversation in-real-life - A calm, contemplative and pleasant atmosphere inspiring a corresponding behavior While the project was limited in size the intention was to implement a strategic investment for Uppsala University as a pilot example and showcase for future learning environments. Planning was conducted with a widely assembled planning team in a comprehensive circular process allowing trial and error testing. The design is an outcome of this process in combination with basic aesthetic principles and the predominant choice of natural sustainable materials such as oak wood, wool fabrics, leather and reindeer moss. These premises are open for all students at Uppsala University 21 hours all days, 5AM-2AM. At scheduled hours, special occasions and between semesters it is encouraged that the spaces are used by a wider public for poetry evenings, children storytelling, discourses and board meetings. The outer room is a place for collaborative learning and socializing. It is a brightly illuminated space offering also rich daylight. Furnishing is adapted to different social situations such as teamwork at the round tables or in the different sized glazed cubicles, small talk at small café tables in the coffee corner or chatting in the huge “lawn-sofa”. This space is provided with a cool color scheme ranging from grass green and sky blue to crispy white in response to the outlook scenery of changing seasons. Consequently, the luminaires are fitted with colder light compared to the inner room. Lighting is dominated by vertical light on green sound absorbents of reindeer moss and non-glare downlights enhancing focus cumulation around the tables. The inner space is a study hall housed in a bomb shelter. Here the furnishing and the lighting signalize a silent place for individual reading and working situations. The main characteristic is the variated choice of seating positions and lighting situations. It is desirable to change position and working mode during very long study sessions. To this end as well as for accommodating to analogue and digital working situations individual lighting is adjustable at every seat. Digitalization in learning does not reduce importance of the physical setting. On the contrary, it is more important than ever when we run the risk of getting lost in digital translation. The learning process requires oscillation between vast collection of diverse unsorted information and the contemplative processing of such information. Processing means individually challenging the information we are exposed to. We also need to test our individual thoughts in the digital world. Ideas, arguments and experiences of others are also gathered by social interaction in the physical setting. These are thoughts we often wish to check or follow up on the net. Likewise, there is a need to process ideas from the net in real physical social interaction with others. In cyberspace we are pretty much “alone together”. This oscillation between physical-analogue and individual-collaborative is much affected by the physical properties in which it takes place The physical environment could at worst obstruct and at best facilitate these processes. We have put efforts into providing the best physical prerequisites for individual digital learning and processing as well as social interactive learning and processing. For the latter we should especially mention the center circle. Normally it is part of the silent “inner room”. On other occasions however, it represents an effort to create a physical framework for the most important social activity of all; oral communication. The Swedish word samtal merges together+talk. It is noteworthy in modern physical environments that we lack places clearly and exclusively optimized for this basic activity: quality conversation in groups up to 18 persons. Gathering around the campfire is the archetype for group meeting in all cultures and all times.