At the Forefront of Global Change: akvk+partners Project was Awarded at the Learn Better International Competition
The akvk+partners team took part in the International Architectural Competition Learn Better: Rephrasing Education Through Architecture 2019. It was dedicated to rethinking the educational environment. Our project for a new school model in Helsinki was one of the best projects and received high praise from the jury.
The goal of the competition was to design a school as a tool for development. Today, countries around the world compete not only in the economic sphere, but also in terms of education quality and human capital. Despite the many fundamental changes in the way knowledge is transmitted, the functions of a school remain almost irreplaceable. Many experiments are being conducted, and there is a search for a new perspective on educational formats. However, there is still no clear understanding of what an “exemplary school” should actually be. Some approaches suggest instilling entrepreneurial skills from a young age, while others focus on developing a global mindset or even teaching children technical aspects of their future careers.
The goal of the competition was to design a school as a tool for development. Today, countries around the world compete not only in the economic sphere, but also in terms of education quality and human capital. Despite the many fundamental changes in the way knowledge is transmitted, the functions of a school remain almost irreplaceable. Many experiments are being conducted, and there is a search for a new perspective on educational formats. However, there is still no clear understanding of what an “exemplary school” should actually be. Some approaches suggest instilling entrepreneurial skills from a young age, while others focus on developing a global mindset or even teaching children technical aspects of their future careers.
The competition organizers posed a pressing question to the architects: How can the architecture of a modern school contribute to the transformation and development of modern society? Traditional walls and corridors support outdated teaching methods. Can architecture become a part of pedagogy?
As architects, our task was not to create curricula, but to design an environment that becomes a learning tool and supports advanced pedagogical programs. During the competition, we sought answers to the following fundamental challenges:
Our project is a manifesto on how new forms of environment can introduce valuable models of learning into life. We didn’t just design a building; we proposed a spatial scenario in which architecture helps children to become productive and happy.
More about the project
As architects, our task was not to create curricula, but to design an environment that becomes a learning tool and supports advanced pedagogical programs. During the competition, we sought answers to the following fundamental challenges:
- Flexibility and openness: How can small architectural forms be used to turn a space into a catalyst for the development of life skills?
- Synchronization with society: How can space help children develop a mindset adaptive to rapid changes in the world?
- Transformation of meanings: How can design help us evolve established notions of pedagogy?
Our project is a manifesto on how new forms of environment can introduce valuable models of learning into life. We didn’t just design a building; we proposed a spatial scenario in which architecture helps children to become productive and happy.
More about the project
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