Some projects start with a clear question.
Others start with curiosity.
The collaboration with Curio MBO programs actually began with both.
“I’ve been working with Curio for quite some time now. It’s an educational organization where every day revolves around learning, development, and collaboration—students, teachers, and field instructors. Everyone uses the spaces in a different way. And that was precisely the challenge. Because how do you design a space that doesn’t have just one function, but actually fulfills several at once?
A space where classes are taught, where students work independently, where a practical setup is sometimes needed, and where collaboration is central. You see these kinds of spaces more and more often in in education. But figuring out the perfect layout in advance? That’s difficult. So we decided to do things differently,” says Loonen.
Don't just think about it—test it
Together with the Curio team, we came to a simple conclusion:
Instead of endlessly discussing the ideal layout, we’d be better off experimenting in practice. We developed two different concepts for so-called mixed-use spaces. Spaces that need to be able to switch flexibly between different work styles. The idea was simple:
- We’ll set up two versions
- Students and faculty will work with them
- And after a few weeks, we’ll assess: what works and what doesn’t?
No assumptions. Just real-world experiences.
What Happens in Practice
"What I loved seeing was that an experiment like this immediately sparks change. Instructors started rearranging the layout.
Students discovered spots where they could collaborate more effectively. And some pieces of furniture suddenly turned out to be used much more often than we had anticipated. Those are exactly the insights you’re looking for,” explains Loonen.
Because a space may look perfect on paper, but ultimately, how it’s used determines whether something really works. And in an educational setting, that usage is constantly changing.
The Power of Flexible Office Design
For us at Alvero, this experiment confirmed something we see quite often. A work environment—whether it’s an office or a school, doesn’t have to be perfect right away. In fact, it often works better if you leave room to test, learn, and adapt. That’s only possible if the design is flexible—if you can make changes without everything being set in stone right away. That’s exactly why we find it so valuable to experiment together with our clients.
Learning from Practice
The experiment at Curio provided valuable insights. Not only for them, but also for us. “You see how students use spaces. How teachers handle flexibility. And which layout actually encourages collaboration. Those kinds of experiences ultimately help create better learning environments. And to be honest: that gets me excited, too,” says Loonen. Because ultimately, it’s not about the furniture. It’s about the people who use them every day. And if a space helps them learn better, collaborate more effectively, and adapt more easily, then you know you’ve created something worthwhile.
Would you like to talk about it together sometime?
Please contact Tim to discuss the options available for your organization.
