SintLucas & MEDITE SMARTPLY
Vandaag, 00:00
After last year's successful collaboration, we once again joined forces with creative vocational school SintLucas This time, the new generation of students focused their talents on the courtyard of the Vitalis Brunswijck care complex in Eindhoven. We challenged them to design an outdoor object made of MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME (MTX) that would delight, amaze and surprise the residents every day. The project, which started in April 2024, is a valuable experience for both the students and the residents of the care complex. The courtyard of the Vitalis care complex has now been enriched with 12 new projects and, thanks to the sustainable properties, they can continue to enjoy the sustainable outdoor objects for a long time to come.
A creative assignment with social impact
SintLucas, the well-known creative vocational school from Eindhoven and Boxtel, offers students practical experience in various fields such as interior design, photography and ceramic styling. For this second joint project with MEDITE SMARTPLY, students were given the opportunity to work with MTX, a high-quality sheet material that is particularly suitable for outdoor use thanks to its moisture resistance. Teacher Anco Salari supervises the project and emphasizes the importance of sustainable materials: “Our students not only learn to work with wood here, but also how important future-proof design is. The fact that they can create something that enriches the lives of others makes this collaboration extra valuable.”
Connectedness and cooperation are central
At the Vitalis Brunswijck care complex, where rehabilitation and long-term care are central, joint activities and a pleasant living environment play an important role. The garden with benches, walking paths and an aviary already brought a lot of pleasure, but now has twelve more objects that the residents enjoy. That is why this project also means more than a simple renovation. The residents are closely involved in the design process and visited the workshop of SintLucas. There they met the students and gave them valuable feedback. Wendy van Zon, coordinator of Art & Culture at Vitalis, says: “It was special to see the enthusiastic reactions of the residents.
Unique objects in the garden of Vitalis Brunswijck
th MTX, students are given a sustainable and versatile material, with which they can give free rein to their creativity. Although everyone works with the same material, different designs emerge, each telling its own story. For example, student Sterre de Klein developed an accessible table called 'TWIST', specially designed for wheelchair users to play games together. Sterre explains: "The design had to be both sustainable and functional. With TWIST, residents can play games without having to stretch over the table. I am proud that my design can really make a difference in the daily lives of the residents.
Another inspiring work comes from student Luuk Pouwels, who designed a graceful ballerina, inspired by the famous ballet 'Swan Lake'. His creation plays with light and shadow and symbolizes both the white and the black swan when the sun shines on it. Luuk says: "I wanted to create something that is not only aesthetically special, but also has meaning. My background in theater and dance quickly led me to the idea of the ballerina. The positive reactions from the residents are the greatest compliment."Valuable collaboration and positive results
MEDITE SMARTPLY is proud of the students' involvement and the creative input they give to the project. Henny Henderson, sales manager at MEDITE SMARTPLY, says: "The enthusiasm and professionalism with which the students worked with MTX is impressive. They process the material in unique ways, and it is wonderful to see how well their creations fit into the Vitalis garden. This project shows that sustainable sheet material is not only functional, but can also contribute to a warm, liveable environment."
The project at Vitalis Brunswijck is an example of how education, creativity and sustainability go hand in hand and make a local impact. Both the students and the residents of Vitalis gain valuable experiences from it. The collaboration between SintLucas and MEDITE SMARTPLY will thus have a sustainable continuation, with promising results that benefit the community.