Modena Double Student Desk

The Modena double student desk brings two pupils together on one frame while leaving each of them their own working area. It has a 45×110 cm Werzalit or 49×120 cm CDF top, two separate wire book racks beneath the top and two separate pen grooves on the desktop. Produced under the code SR 11-13, this model belongs to the same curved C-leg frame family as the single Modena; the difference is that it is divided in two so that shared use stays orderly.

A shared desk with separated space

The known problem with double desks is boundary ambiguity: two pupils share the same surface, notebooks get mixed up, elbows collide. In this model the design targets that problem directly. The book rack beneath the top is not one long basket but two separate compartments divided at the centre — each pupil’s notebooks stay in their own compartment. The two separate pen grooves on the upper surface follow the same logic. The result is a configuration that preserves individual order without losing the space saving that sharing brings.

Space economy: why a double desk?

In crowded classrooms a double desk offers a clear layout advantage over singles. The total area occupied by two separate desks is greater than that of one double frame: each single desk has its own leg set, its own modesty panel and the gap that has to be left between them. On a double frame that repetition disappears; the same number of pupils fits with fewer row gaps and the teacher is left with an aisle to move through. In institutions with 30 or more pupils per class, that difference is the decision point between opening another row of desks and not.

It matters to know where the gain stops, too. When you divide a double top in two, the width available per pupil becomes apparent; on a Werzalit top that share is narrower than on CDF. At levels where you care about elbow room while writing — high school in particular — choosing the wider CDF top changes comfort noticeably. At middle school level and below, the Werzalit width remains sufficient for most classrooms. The decision really comes down to a simple question: are you saving on the number of desks or on surface per pupil? Once you share your room dimensions and level, we can set that balance together with concrete figures.

Werzalit and CDF top dimensions

The top is chosen from two materials and the dimensions change with the material: 45×110 cm on the Werzalit top, 49×120 cm on the CDF top. The CDF option is both deeper and wider; that means a working surface where a notebook and a book can stay open side by side, and it makes a difference at high school level in particular. CDF is also more resistant to moisture and scratching thanks to its high-pressure pressed structure and black core edge. Werzalit, with its wood-textured surface and more economical position, is the classic classroom choice.

Perforated sheet modesty panel and curved frame

The modesty panel is produced from perforated sheet finished in the same electrostatic powder coating as the frame. The perforated texture prevents a long double frame from looking visually heavy — had the panel been a solid sheet, the desk would read like a wall inside the room. The perforated construction also wipes clean with a damp cloth and stands up to impact better than a melamine panel. The frame is the double version of the curved C-leg form found on the single Modena: two cantilever legs at the two ends with clear space between them. Because this form leaves no vertical leg at the front of the desk, both pupils keep free leg room.

Another practical consequence of the cantilever form is cleaning. There is no vertical leg for a mop passing between rows of desks to catch on; the floor can be wiped in one pass. A significant part of the time lost in school cleaning comes from working around furniture, so this detail is felt daily in a room with thirty desks. The plastic glides at the leg ends are part of the same logic: the floor is not scratched when a desk is dragged, scraping noise drops and classrooms on the floor below are not disturbed.

Colour, height and classroom consistency

Frame and panel colours are chosen from the RAL chart; production can match the school’s identity. Heights come in three steps: primary, middle and high school. Step selection needs extra care on double desks, because the two pupils sharing one frame may differ in height; where the height spread within a class is wide, arranging desks by height order and distributing the steps accordingly is the most practical solution.

On the colour side the most frequent question is whether frame and panel should be the same tone or contrasting. Single-colour builds look plain and corporate; choosing a neutral frame with a vivid panel gives the room an identity and is preferred at primary level in particular. On a perforated sheet panel, vivid colours do not sit heavily thanks to the perforated texture — markedly different from the effect the same tone would create on a solid panel.

Quantity calculation and quotation

The most common mistake on double desk orders is dividing the pupil count by two and treating the result directly as the number of desks. Classes with an odd number of pupils, new enrolments arriving during the year and the need for spares all have to be taken into account. Share your class lists and we will work out that margin together. Our survey service is free of charge; we prepare a plan showing how many desks fit at what spacing for your room size. The transport charge appears as a separate line in the quotation, is calculated according to order volume and destination province, and is not included in the product price.