Significance of the Chair — Cultivating Space

Lauren Sexton

How can the design of the classroom support
learning and improve the well-being of students?

I am a recent graduate of the Yale School of Architecture and have been investigating this question through the lense of neuroscience and design. My study has led to the production of a teacher's manual that offers information, research and strategies for creating enriched learning environments that support the well-being of students. I believe that educators should have easy access to this type of research in a digestible and engaging format and hope the manual I create empowers and inspires teachers to make the most of the resources they have, but also advocate for the importance of the classroom environment on student well-being and success. This spring, I am continuing the research and hope to develop the manual to a level that it can be published. I plan to update this site with weekly posts related to the current research discoveries and questions I am working on. If you are interested in getting in touch, viewing more of my work, or supporting the research by completing a teachers survey, please refer to the links below!

link to teacher survey

01 Significance of the Chair

01.14.25

On January 14th, I traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina to attend VS America’s Higher Education Experience Days conference. VS is a school and office furniture manufacturer that was established in 1898 in Germany by the companies Ramminger & Stetter and P. Johannes Müller & Co. From their start, VS has worked to improve the quality, comfort, flexibility, and function of classroom furniture, focusing especially on the chair.

the two images above were taken by me at the
conference and the rest are linked at the end of the post

Over the years, VS has grown internationally, collaborated with designers like Verner Panton and Jean Nouvel, and published research including the The Third Teacher from 2010 (an incredible resource by the way!!) VS consistently advocates for better learning environments that support both the students and the educators that spend so much of their time in the classroom. From my experience with them so far, I see VS as much more than a school furniture manufacturer. VS is a company that joins research and design to prove the importance of the classroom environment on student health and well-being.

The conference I attended this January invited architects, interior designers, scientists, furniture distributors, and educators to participate in discussions on the future of the classroom environment. Specifically, the conference focused on the importance of allowing movement in the classroom to improve focus, health, and the well-being of students. This topic was explained through three presentations:

“Getting Ready for Future Ready Classrooms” Rebecca Putman - Texas Christian University
“The Power of Spaces: Requirements for an Agile and Healthy Learning Culture” Dr. Dieter Breithecker - Health & Kinetics Scientist and Ore of the Federal Institute on the Development of
Posture and Movement in Germany
“Connection, Collaboration, and Engagement: Designing Classrooms for Flexible Learning and Teaching” Betsy Hayes, Kristy Rhea, and Emily Goodwin - Bridgewater College

The entire experience was inspiring. The speaker presentations and the many conversations I had throughout the day with other visitors confirmed my belief that there is a desire to learn more about the impact of the classroom environment on student well-being, but there is also a lack of reliable and digestible research that proves this impact.

Dr. Breithecker ‘s presentation - which was particularly relevant to my research - discussed how our bodies need to move to help nourish our brains and improve our focus and health. In his words, “sitting is the new smoking.” VS has been working with Dr. Breithecker for years to develop seating solutions that encourage movement for all ages - one of the most beloved by students and teachers is their Hokki stool.

Overall, I think VS America is a great resource for educators interested in understanding the impact classroom furniture can have on students and the reason why it is so important. If you want to learn more about the importance of movement in the classroom, refer to my next post, Early Education Theorists, which discusses Maria Montessori’s educational pedagogy and practice. Interestingly, the sole manufacturer of the Montessori classroom materials was P. Johannes Müller & Co. from VS!

Finally, I want to thank Thomas Doe, the Director of Higher Education at VS America, for inviting me to the conference and the warm hospitality shown to me throughout my visit!

image and reference links

YSOA SP25 Independent Study