Educational makerspace design in Shiraz is a transformative approach to modern learning. Education today extends far beyond the limits of traditional classrooms. Contemporary students need inspiring learning environments where creativity, technology, experimentation, collaboration, and hands-on education come together to shape the innovators of the future.
Developed with this vision, the project transformed an abandoned school workshop in Shiraz, Iran, into a dynamic, modern, and highly functional educational makerspace for gifted students aged 13 to 16.
Designed and executed by the young, multidisciplinary team at Decobin Architecture Studio, the project is among the early contemporary educational makerspaces developed specifically for talented students in Shiraz. Inspired by successful international Makerspace and Fab Lab models, the design introduces a new learning environment where academic education is supported by practical experience in:
- Robotics and automation
- Electronics and programming
- Prototyping and model-making
- Digital fabrication
- Product design and development
- Collaborative problem-solving
The result is more than a renovated workshop. It is an innovation-oriented learning hub where students can transform ideas into tangible products.
1. Project Vision and Educational Approach
The project was conceived as more than the renovation of an unused school facility. Its primary objective was to create an educational environment that supports curiosity, invention, teamwork, technological exploration, and applied problem-solving.
Instead of reproducing the conventional classroom model, the makerspace provides students with an interactive and future-oriented platform where they can:
- Explore new technologies
- Test and improve ideas
- Build physical and digital prototypes
- Work collaboratively
- Learn through experimentation
- Develop practical and interdisciplinary skills
Architecture, interior design, equipment planning, storage, lighting, and project execution were integrated into a unified design process. This comprehensive approach created a cohesive learning environment that encourages students to think, test, build, evaluate, and collaborate in a real-world setting.
Educational Process Diagram
This circular process reflects the core philosophy of makerspace education: mistakes are not considered failures but essential stages of learning, refinement, and innovation.
2. Educational makerspace design in Shiraz: Adaptive Reuse Strategy
One of the project’s most important architectural strategies was the adaptive reuse of an abandoned workshop within the school.
Rather than allowing the existing space to remain inactive, the design team transformed it into a purposeful educational environment with a distinctive visual identity, efficient circulation, and a clearly organized operational structure.
This adaptive reuse strategy achieved several objectives:
- Revitalizing an underused school facility
- Reducing the need for new construction
- Making efficient use of existing infrastructure
- Creating a specialized environment for technology-based education
- Demonstrating the potential of architectural renovation in schools
The project illustrates how existing educational buildings can be reimagined to meet the evolving needs of contemporary students. With strategic planning and targeted interventions, even a neglected school workshop can become a modern innovation laboratory.
3. Functional Zoning and Efficient Workflow
The central design strategy focused on creating a flexible, safe, technology-oriented, and inspiring environment for experimentation, creativity, and teamwork.
Based on the activities, equipment, tools, and safety requirements of the workshop, the makerspace was divided into two main operational areas:
Clean Zone
The Clean Zone supports activities that require concentration, accuracy, controlled conditions, and protection from dust or heavy workshop processes.
Primary activities include:
- Electronics
- Programming and coding
- Robotics
- Circuit assembly
- Precision work
- Digital design and documentation
Dirty Zone
The Dirty Zone accommodates fabrication and production activities that may generate dust, debris, noise, or material waste.
Primary activities include:
- Model-making
- Cutting and assembly
- Manual fabrication
- Prototype construction
- Material processing
- Product development
Dedicated electronics workstations and fabrication tables were positioned on opposite sides of the workshop. This arrangement improves circulation, supports a logical production workflow, and reduces interference between delicate electronic tasks and heavier fabrication activities.
Functional Zoning Table
| Design Zone | Primary Activities | Spatial Requirements | Main Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean Zone | Electronics, programming, robotics, precision work | Controlled, organized, and well-lit workstations | Accuracy, concentration, and equipment protection |
| Dirty Zone | Fabrication, model-making, cutting, assembly | Durable surfaces and flexible worktables | Safe production and easier maintenance |
| Storage Area | Tools, materials, components, and student projects | Accessible cabinets and categorized storage | Better organization and reduced visual clutter |
| Display Area | Prototypes and completed student products | Integrated showcases and visible shelving | Motivation, identity, and recognition of achievement |
| Circulation Paths | Movement between workstations and activity zones | Clear and unobstructed routes | Safety, accessibility, and workflow efficiency |
4. Interior Design and Spatial Efficiency
With a total area of approximately 130 square meters, spatial efficiency was one of the project’s main architectural challenges.
Every part of the makerspace was carefully planned to accommodate educational activities, specialized equipment, storage, circulation, and product displays without making the interior feel crowded or visually chaotic.
The interior design strategy included:
- Efficient placement of workstations
- Flexible furniture arrangements
- Custom-built storage systems
- Integrated cabinets for tools and materials
- Dedicated displays for student prototypes
- Clear circulation routes
- Visual separation of different work zones
Custom storage units help maintain an organized and safe environment while ensuring that tools, components, and materials remain easily accessible. Integrated showcases also provide a dedicated platform for displaying student projects and prototypes.
Displaying student work has an important educational role. It reinforces a sense of achievement, encourages creative confidence, strengthens students’ connection to the makerspace, and gives the environment a recognizable identity.
5. Lighting Design and Learning Atmosphere
Lighting plays a major role in the performance, comfort, and emotional character of an educational makerspace.
Natural light was carefully controlled to minimize glare and maintain visual comfort, particularly in areas dedicated to electronics, programming, and precision work. This approach helps reduce eye strain and improves concentration during detailed technical activities.
Modern artificial lighting systems were selected to provide:
- Balanced illumination across work surfaces
- Visual comfort during extended activities
- Accurate color rendering
- Reduced glare and harsh shadows
- A warm and collaborative atmosphere
- Suitable lighting for both individual and group work
The lighting strategy supports technical performance while also shaping the psychological quality of the interior. The resulting environment feels active, welcoming, focused, and inspiring for young users.
6. Material Palette and Industrial-Modern Identity
The makerspace follows a clean industrial-modern interior design language that reflects the technological, experimental, and practical nature of the project.
Materials were selected according to four main criteria:
- Durability
- Ease of maintenance
- Functional performance
- Visual coherence
Materials and Design Features
| Element | Material or Color | Functional Purpose | Visual Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooring | Light gray epoxy | Durable, easy to clean, and resistant to visible wear | Creates a neutral and professional foundation |
| Walls | White finish | Improves brightness and supports visual focus | Provides a clean backdrop for tools and student projects |
| Ceiling | Black exposed ceiling | Conceals installations and emphasizes the workshop character | Adds depth and reinforces the industrial identity |
| Furniture | Functional workshop surfaces and integrated storage | Supports education, fabrication, and organization | Creates visual consistency |
| Plants | Natural low-light indoor plants | Softens the technical environment | Introduces warmth, vitality, and a human-centered quality |
The contrast between the light gray epoxy floor, white walls, and black exposed ceiling establishes a distinctive yet balanced spatial identity.
Natural indoor plants were added to soften the industrial character and introduce warmth, texture, and vitality. This combination of technical surfaces and natural elements creates an environment that feels innovative without becoming cold or overly mechanical.
7. A New Learning Environment for Future Innovators
This educational makerspace is more than a physical workshop. It is a platform for developing creative confidence, technical knowledge, interdisciplinary thinking, and collaborative skills.
The space supports an educational philosophy in which students actively participate in the learning process. Instead of receiving information passively, they learn by making, testing, observing, evaluating, and improving.
Traditional Classroom vs. Educational Makerspace
| Educational Factor | Traditional Classroom | Modern Makerspace |
|---|---|---|
| Learning Method | Primarily theoretical | Practical and project-based |
| Student Role | Information receiver | Active designer, maker, and problem-solver |
| Collaboration | Often limited | Central to the learning process |
| Use of Technology | Supplementary | Integrated into daily activities |
| Experimentation | Restricted | Encouraged and supported |
| Response to Mistakes | Often outcome-focused | Mistakes are treated as learning opportunities |
| Final Output | Exams and assignments | Prototypes, products, experiments, and solutions |
| Skills Developed | Academic knowledge | Technical, creative, social, and interdisciplinary skills |
By combining robotics, electronics, programming, digital fabrication, and product development, the makerspace prepares gifted students for the changing demands of higher education and innovation-driven careers.
8. Project Information at a Glance
| Project Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Project Type | Educational makerspace and innovation workshop |
| Location | Shiraz, Iran |
| Design and Execution | Decobin Architecture Studio |
| Target Users | Gifted students aged 13–16 |
| Approximate Area | 130 square meters |
| Original Condition | Abandoned school workshop |
| Design Strategy | Adaptive reuse and educational interior renovation |
| Main Zones | Clean Zone and Dirty Zone |
| Main Activities | Robotics, electronics, programming, fabrication, prototyping, and product design |
| Interior Style | Industrial-modern |
| Primary Objective | Creating a functional environment for hands-on and technology-based learning |
Final Outcome
The modern makerspace in Shiraz demonstrates how architecture and interior design can directly support emerging models of education.
Through the adaptive reuse of an abandoned 130-square-meter school workshop, Decobin Architecture Studio created a contemporary innovation hub that is functional, flexible, inspiring, and aligned with the educational needs of gifted students.
The project’s clear zoning system, efficient spatial planning, custom storage solutions, controlled lighting, and industrial-modern identity work together to support a wide range of activities—from programming and electronics to fabrication and prototype development.
More importantly, the project shows how underused school spaces can be transformed into meaningful learning environments for creativity, technology, teamwork, and hands-on education. It offers a forward-thinking model for future school makerspaces, innovation labs, and Fab Labs in Iran.