Evie Lentjes

The Sensitive Schoolday; A Learning Journey

“An architectural journey of individual choice, connection with nature, shelter and decentralization. 
Designed for highly sensitive children, supporting the wellbeing of everyone” 

In the Netherlands, highly sensitive children often fall through the cracks in the education system, despite inclusive education. High sensitivity is not an illness but an inherent trait that is an integral part of who someone is. About 20% of children are highly sensitive and are often not well understood in primary and secondary school. This sometimes leads to them being wrongly placed at a lower educational level, referred to special education, or excluded from the system entirely. In short, the current education system falls short for these children. 

As architects, we may not have control over the educational methods, but we do have influence over the physical space in which this education takes place. Instead of designing for the norm – the 80% of non-highly sensitive users – I have created a design specifically tailored to the needs of the 20% who are highly sensitive. This design allows highly sensitive students to reach their full potential and feel at home, without excluding non-sensitive students. It's not about a specific form of education, but about creating a school environment that also provides a place for highly sensitive students to grow and feel comfortable alongside their non-sensitive peers. 

The project is based on four core elements that form the foundation for designing for high sensitivity: decentralization, integration of indoor and outdoor spaces, shelter, and choice. This comes together in an existing school building in Eindhoven, resulting in a design with clear architectural principles for a secondary school focused on highly sensitive students and teachers, while remaining accessible to everyone. 

I invite you to join me on a journey of discovery, where we will learn, experience, and explore what it means to be yourself and highly sensitive in a school environment. We will explore what it is like for a highly sensitive child to attend school and what is needed to truly make this "forgotten group" feel at home in their school environment. I will show you how all of this comes together in my design, in the sensitive school day: an architectural journey of individual choice, connection with nature, shelter, and decentralization. Designed for highly sensitive children, supporting the well-being of everyone. 

Graduation date: 27 November 2024 
Graduation committee: Judith Korpershoek (mentor), Jeanne Tan, Bart Bulter 
Additional members for the exam: Micha de Haas, Floris Hund