A study day focused on the intersection of space and sensory experience within school environments is scheduled for March 12, 2026, at the Faculty of Education of the University of Montpellier. The event, titled “Le spatial & le sensible dans les espaces scolaires,” is jointly organized by the LIRDEF research laboratory and the university’s Faculty of Education.
The study day will explore how the architecture and organization of schools influence student learning, social interactions, and overall well-being. Organizers state the event will move beyond purely material considerations—such as thermal comfort or building efficiency—to examine how school spaces shape daily experiences, interactions, and perceptions.
According to event descriptions, the space itself is considered a structuring environment that impacts how students inhabit locations, relate to their surroundings, and develop their understanding of the world. The study day aims to understand how spatial and sensory dimensions contribute to learning and school climate.
The program includes an opening address by Cécile Bourgade, a lecturer in plastic arts at the University of Montpellier, titled “Donner sens aux sens à travers l’espace scolaire : de la Bildung à la soma-esthétique.” Alexandra Baudinault, a lecturer in geography at INSPÉ de Paris, will present on “Éprouver l’école : corps, espace et sensibilité dans les lieux d’apprentissage.” Alexis Desplats, an architect and doctoral candidate at ENSA de Normandie, will speak on “Un architecte à l’école entre création de commun et « déprise d’œuvre ».”
The event will draw on perspectives from socio-historical, philosophical, and socio-spatial fields to examine the concrete effects of educational spaces on those who use them. Researchers are as well exploring methodologies for understanding the relationship between spatial environments and individual sensory experiences, including the use of “walks” as a research protocol to link spatial environments, individual sensory experience, and social realities.
Related research explores methods for incorporating sensory experiences into geographical studies, including audiovisual and sonic approaches. One approach involves students creating podcasts, sound installations, photographic exhibitions, or films to explore the sensory dimensions of space.
