Israeli designer Sarit Shani Hay has designed wooden built-in furniture to promote collaboration, play and rest in an elementary school in Tel Aviv.
The local designer created the interiors for a public school near the city's Sarona neighbourhood that caters to children with disabilities and learning difficulties.

Hay said her aim was to celebrate the diversity of the student body, encourage interaction and different types of learning. She nicknamed the project The First Inclusive School.
"The goal was to translate the philosophy of inclusive education into a physical environment that promotes joyful experiential learning," Hay said.

"This designed space inspires kids to be engaged in multiple ways while enhancing a feeling of belonging and empathy," she added. The 2,000-square-metre school building was built by L2 Tsionov Vitkon Architects. The local architecture studio worked in collaboration with Inclu Foundation, an Israeli non-profit that promotes personalised education and differentiating teaching methods.

Hay designed the interiors of two of the floors of six-storey school, officially called Bikurum.
Her designs include pale wooden volumes that serve as activity stations to promote learning. Other built-ins provide seating, cabinetry, desks and nooks.

Shades of green and blue are used to break up the white walls and grey floors. "The calm colours and natural wooden materials were used to avoid emotional overload," Hay added.
The de...