classroom design: secrets, small spaces, and special places

this post over at Global Mama got me thinking about how little nooks and crannies are often what make the biggest impression on those who inhabit a space. i've always loved small spaces - i feel cozy in them, i feel safe in them, and i feel like i know every inch of the space. there's something about a small space to me and, i've observed, to children, that feels extra special and almost wondrous. i know a child who has spent many hours creating beautiful drawings and mixed-media collages, only to then fold them into one tiny piece, shroud them in layers of paper and tape, and give them away as presents. she calls these presents "a secret." and that's just how a small space feels to me. like a secret. something that i can call my own, and only i know all the ins and outs of it, the special nooks and crannies, the beauty that lies in the corners and the shadows.

for children, i think part of the magic of a nook, a cranny, a small, enclosed space is that it provides a stage for their dramatic play, a place where their imagination can unfold, and their ideas can develop. in thinking about designing a new classroom, i find myself wanting to create these little spaces for children - spaces that will fit the children's desire to act our their fantasies and will also inspire them and arouse their senses.

whenever i visit new places, i find myself taking photographs of windows, doors, gates, and paths. these are the things that pop out to me in a new place: the special spaces, the nooks and crannies. they inspire me, they activate my imagination, and they provide a backdrop for my fantasies. i love a good window, both how it looks and what it looks upon:

windows in homes:



old church windows:



and nature's windows:



i also love doors, gates, fences, and archways. they can be inviting, welcoming, charming, partly hidden, and well-situated:





they can stand alone:


they can tell a story:


and they can lead you down a path: