Review of the “Écoletopie” experiment at the École Saint-Charles

©Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali

The Nouveau Musée National de Monaco and the Department of Education, Youth and Sport, with support from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, invited studio smarin to test a new approach to teaching with a project called: “Écoletopie”.

Developed by the studio in 2022 for the “Art of teaching and learning: a school for creators” exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Metz, France, the experiment was presented in a school in Monaco for the first time.

“Écoletopie” was installed in a classroom of the École Saint-Charles from September to the end of February. During this period, CM1 (Year 5) pupils and their teacher tested an entire environment aimed primarily at: focusing attention, developing collective intelligence and practising body awareness and sensitivity.

Every room in the experiment was created using pure and untreated materials chosen with the utmost care for their natural qualities. In addition to the experiment, Studio smarin conducted a series of discussions and hands-on workshops to develop the children’s awareness of the importance of their posture and movement in class, the role of the group in a number of activities, or the importance of sensitivity practice time in the acquisition of knowledge.   

Similarly, because Studio smarin focuses on research to design objects with a reduced impact on the human body and the ecosystem, the children were frequently taught about the ecological footprint of materials in architecture and design. 

This experiment was widely acclaimed by the students and the teaching staff at École Saint-Charles. Engaging in activities to explore sensitivity enabled the students to develop their ability to concentrate and create meaning as they acquire core skills. Overall, the experiment promoted the development of cooperative approaches to classroom organisation (work plan, workshop activities, tutoring, etc.) The general, ‘collective-friendly’ environment offered by the experiment had a positive effect on learning overall across all learning subjects.