Creating a Lasting Space for Music, Learning, and Joy

Some projects stay with you. The refurbishment of the music room at Eliot Bank Primary School in Lewisham is one of them. A heartfelt collaboration that brought together over 20 design partners and the energy of a whole school community.

It started with the kids

At the heart of this project is a simple but powerful idea: children aren’t just the people who use a space – they’re the ones who should help shape it. Through workshops, classroom conversations, and hands-on creative sessions, the students at Eliot Bank became genuine co-designers, contributing ideas that evolved into The Treehouse – a warm, nature-inspired concept that brought the outside in, and made the space feel truly theirs.

Their handwriting, their paintings, their love of the natural world – all of it found its way into the finished room. From custom rugs and printed tiles to large-scale murals, the space is a vivid portrait of the school’s community, rendered at architectural scale.

Umbrella’s role: Bringing it all together

For us at Umbrella Furniture, this project was a real labour of love. Our role was to coordinate the furniture across a wide and brilliant network of brand partners – and through a combination of sourced and donated pieces, we helped bring a coherent, considered scheme to life within a 1,786 sq ft space.

The furniture family included Vitra, Brunner, Andreu World, Very Good & Proper, Artek, Hitch Mylius, Sedus, Era, Nowy Styl, Framery, New Design Group, Office Furniture Group, and Floworks. A remarkable line-up that demonstrates just what’s possible when the design community pulls together with a shared purpose.

And on a personal note; our Managing Director Matt was so moved by the project that he donated his own keyboard to the music room. It sits in the space now, ready for the next generation of musicians to discover it. We think that says everything about the spirit this project was built on.

A true community effort

Umbrella was proud to be part of a wider team that included some of London’s best creative and design partners. Interior Architects helped shape the overall spatial vision and Acrylicize brought the students’ ideas to life through beautiful environmental graphics. Plantplan introduced biophilic elements that soften the room and support wellbeing. Impact Acoustics ensured the space genuinely performs for music. EGE supplied the rugs, with Kvadrat and Maharam adding texture and durability through their textiles. And Imago delivered everything on site with skill and care.

Together, more than 20 partners contributed materials, expertise, and creativity – proof that collective authorship, when guided by a clear vision, can deliver something genuinely special.

Thoughtful by Design

The project was guided by a “refresh, not replace” philosophy; retaining existing architectural elements, reducing waste, and reworking what was already there rather than starting from scratch.

The result is a room that feels warm, considered, and alive. Acoustically tuned. Beautifully furnished. And full of the creative energy that the students put into it from day one.

What this project means to us

At a time when creative education is under real pressure, projects like this remind us why our work matters. A well-designed music room isn’t a luxury – it’s an investment in how children learn, create, and express themselves.

We’re incredibly proud of what the whole team achieved at Eliot Bank. And we’re grateful to every partner, every student, and every person who gave their time, talent, or furniture to make it happen.

Here’s to many years of music in that room.