The Forest School Craft Room
Horsham, West Sussex
Number of Students:
1048Project Value:
£117KWeeks on Site:
7Project Overview
Forest School wanted its new textiles room to reflect the standards and feel of a professional, industry level studio, inspiring students with a space that looked and worked “beyond university.” Pinnacle was appointed to transform the existing room into a modern, high-quality environment that supports the full journey of textile design, from concept planning to hands-on production.
The brief also required the space to feel light, neutral and unisex, avoiding stereotypes while still bringing warmth and calm into the room. One of the main challenges was retaining natural light from the existing skylights, while adding statement ceiling features to elevate the space.
The Brief
Forest School asked us to:
- Create an industry-standard textiles space with clearly defined workflow zones.
- Introduce suspended acoustic ceiling panels with a sculptural “butterfly wing” effect.
- Maintain an open, airy feel without blocking skylight illumination.
- Develop a gender-neutral palette using muted tones to support focus and comfort.
- Equip the space with specialist textiles equipment, including:
12 sewing machines
2 heat presses
1 printing block
A dedicated tie-dye and messy-work area
What We Did
A professional textiles studio with a visual identity.
We installed bespoke ceiling panels shaped like stylised butterfly wings — a subtle nod to creativity and craft — suspended to simulate a dropped-ceiling effect without sacrificing daylight from the skylights.
The muted, neutral palette was carefully developed to create a calm yet warm environment. This approach was grounded in colour-theory principles that emphasise focus and emotional comfort, especially important in practical creative subjects.
A workflow that mirrors industry practice
The layout was reconfigured to create a clear pathway of work, helping students move seamlessly from design planning to practical application. Fitted furniture incorporates LED strip lighting to enhance visibility during fine-detail work.
Purpose-built benching, storage and equipment zones help the space feel organised, professional and intuitive to use.
Durable, education-ready FF&E
All finishes were selected for long-term use, easy maintenance, and high daily throughput typical of a busy creative subject.
The Result
The completed space is a modern, uplifting textiles studio that feels professional, purposeful and aspirational. Students now work in an environment that reflects the tools, processes and visual language of real creative industries — all while retaining the warmth, inclusivity and practicality required in a school setting.
For students:
- A studio that mirrors real-world creative environments
- Clear workflow zoning for an improved learning journey
For staff:
- Purpose-designed spaces that support both teaching and independent making
- Enhanced visibility and storage for safer, more efficient lessons
For the school:
- An inspiring, future-proofed textiles room that elevates its creative offer
- A design that aligns with modern curriculum needs and industry expectations
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