Research indicates that space matters impacting the quality and nature of interaction between students and lectuers, and between peers. At the University of Winchester there has been a research-led approach to understanding, the impact of teaching and learning spaces on pedagogy. In 2006/7, research into teaching spaces was undertaken at Winchester by the University's Research and Teaching Fellow and qualified architect. Findings from the research were presented at the annual Higher Education Conference in 2008. The research found that the shape and micro-design (furniture, layout, etc) of a teaching space influenced the kind of teaching that took place
Further research has drawn on the student experience of teaching and learning spaces within faculties, and has being synthesised by members of the university management team. Members of the Learning and Teaching Development Unit advise the Estatesand Planning teams on pedagogically appropriate designs for teaching spaces, drawing on their research evidence base.