case study | Hanami Dream | Cotswolds copywriter

Library design: Sutton Courtenay CofE Primary School

To support vision of all children at the school having a reading identity
To create a library area that can be used as a teaching space for a whole class as well as a place for individual pupils to come and borrow books
To feel like a real library as there is no library in the community
To spread and pass on the love of reading and books
To entice with the entrance to the library (including the door and wall space)
To extend/spill out the library into the entrance, down the drive and into the community
To provide mini community libraries (potentially for the driveway and surrounding areas) where people donate and borrow for free
To include fiction and nonfiction books and show case a variety of reading materials
To promote books, face out to attract attention
To have ability to update wall displays and featured tabletop theme areas

Opening a book is like opening a door to another world to explore
The new library space at SCCEPS will be an immersive area to escape to another world
The experience will start in the entrance lobby
The door and wall area will be wrapped to look like a book so that you feel like you are opening a book when you enter the room
Inside the library it will look like an enchanted forest like ones described in many children’s stories
There will be nooks and places to relax and read independently as well as spaces for class reading, story telling thrones and woodland décor

Entrance to library
Windows (including stain glass effect)
Walls (inc paint, wallpaper, decals / wall stickers, 3d butterflies, quotes and framed book covers)
Flooring
Shelving (inc shelving units, low shallow display book shelves for picture books, rotating bookshelf for featured books
Furniture & soft furnishings (inc teacher chair, low table, chairs, rug, cushions, ‘logs’, reading pods, cosy cove, other decor)
Lighting (inc free standing ‘street’ lamp)
Ceiling
Community libraries

To create a flexible/movable library area that can be used as a teaching space for a whole class as well as a place for individual pupils to come and borrow books
To involve pupils in design and decision process
To promote pupil ownership of space
To align with school branding and vision
To pass on passion for reading and books
To include fiction and non fiction
To have wall displays updated annually and featured tabletop theme areas that can be updated more frequently

To use the central space (next to the hall) as a library resource for all years
Retain intervention area at the back of the room with existing table and chairs
Block up doorway to other classrooms to avoid this space being used as a corridor / thoroughfare
Convert store room to sensory room [out of scope]
Some damp on some walls resulting in peeling/bubbling paint work
Lots of old white boards, wooden frames/borders, cables and other old
elements left on walls

Existing furniture
Entrance to library
Signage
Ceiling
Windows covering (inc blinds)
Flooring
Walls (inc paint, wallpaper, decals / wall stickers, quotes and framed book covers)
Shelving (inc shelving units, low shallow display book shelves for picture books, rotating
bookshelf for featured books
Furniture & soft furnishings (inc teacher chair, tables, chairs, bean bags, modular seating, rug, cushions, reading pods, cosy cove, other deco