Client projects: Silvia School

A state-of-the-art and sustainable school for students with hearing impairments

Thanks to the Silvia School, the municipality of Hässleholm has been at the forefront of providing adapted education for students with hearing impairments since the 1990s. When Silviaskolan outgrew its premises, it was essential to ensure that the same high standard of education could be maintained in the future. A new school was built, where every detail—from layout to material choices and technical solutions—was tailored to create an optimal learning environment for students with hearing impairments. With Kinnarps' support, Silviaskolan realised its vision of a state-of-the-art school where student needs are the central focus.

A long-term investment

For Silviaskolan, investing in a well-thought-out, high-quality interior design solution was an obvious choice. Not only because the physical environment plays a crucial role in education, but also to create spaces that will stand the test of time—an investment that, according to Principal Christian Örn, has delivered clear results.

Although the previous school maintained high standards, he believes the new school has taken another step forward. "This is Sweden's most modern school in terms of how the environment supports students with hearing impairments," he says, highlighting four key success factors: highly skilled teachers, small student groups, advanced hearing technology, and a carefully designed physical environment.

Optimised acoustic and lighting environment

Ahead of designing the new spaces, Kinnarps conducted a site visit to the existing school to interview students and teachers. The aim was to identify what worked well and what could be improved in the physical environment. One key finding was the significant impact of acoustics and lighting on students' learning.

Creating a good acoustic environment

Even the smallest sounds, such as a squeaking chair or a humming ventilation system, can make it harder for individuals with hearing impairments to follow speech. To achieve a sufficiently good acoustic environment, a holistic approach was necessary to minimise both noise generation and reverberation time* in the spaces.

To reduce noise generation, it is important to choose the right materials for the interior. For example, marmoleum tabletops produce a softer sound than laminate when objects are dropped on them. Other noise-reduction measures included fitted carpets in many areas and felt pads on chairs and tables.

To reduce reverberation, acoustic panels were installed on the walls. Carpets, furniture, and material choices also play a crucial role. Even the walls are specially designed—they are angled to reflect sound in a particular way.

”We have worked together to achieve the best possible result," says Christian Örn about the collaboration with Kinnarps on selecting furniture and materials. He explains that both students and staff were involved in testing different options.

The importance of technology and a good lighting environment

Silviaskolan is equipped with the latest hearing technology. In the classroom, teachers wear microphones that transmit sound to a hearing loop in the floor, which students' hearing aids connect to. However, for some types of hearing impairments, this technological support is not sufficient. Therefore, the teachers at Silviaskolan also use sign-supported speech in their teaching, making the lighting environment particularly important.

"When you have a hearing impairment, you compensate, often by using your vision. You observe how the mouth moves and pay attention to body language. How the light falls can therefore determine whether you understand what is being said or not," explains Headteacher Christian Örn.

In addition to a well-planned layout and lighting design, a key solution was arranging desks and chairs in a U-shape, with the teacher positioned in the centre. This ensures that all students can both see and hear what is being communicated.

Solution-focused collaboration

In a project where details are as crucial as in the construction of the new Silviaskolan, a solution-oriented approach is essential. Unexpected challenges always arise along the way. Christian Örn expresses his gratitude for Kinnarps' attentive and flexible approach to the project. Looking back, he sees a successful project and notes that the close collaboration was key to getting the learning environment just right. "The overall design of the physical environment and the specialised adaptations around teaching create an exceptional learning situation for students. It is the many small details that make the big difference!" he says.