I’m very excited about the coming Lifting our Horizons event in Christchurch on Monday 30 September. Those attending will have the privilege of hearing internationally renowned designer, Mary Featherston, who has chosen to attend at short notice and share her insights and experience as an interior designer specialising in the design of learning environments for young people.
Participants in CORE Education’s recent MLE tour of schools in Melbourne heard her name mentioned frequently as they moved among schools, and saw the evidence of Mary’s influence and design thinking in many of the environments they visited.
The focus of Mary’s research and practice is the relationship between contemporary progressive pedagogy and design of the physical environment. Mary has designed responsive learning environments for early childhood services, schools, and cultural venues. Her approach to design of schools is holistic and involves consideration of all layers of the physical environment and how they interact to support social and learning relationships. Mary’s research-based practice involves intense collaborations with innovative educators, school communities, academic researchers, and policy makers.
Mary will be presenting alongside other international guests, including Ewan McIntosh from Scotland and Mark Trotter (CEFPI president) from Australia, plus a range of other learning space designers and educators who will assemble to share their experience and insights around creating modern learning environments.


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