Schools in Finland shift towards flexible learning spaces to enhance student environments

The design of school facilities is increasingly focused on creating calm environments, aiming to avoid scenarios where students must spend an entire day in one large open space. One significant issue with open-air classrooms has been noise, prompting a shift in the design of new schools away from large unified spaces and reflective materials.

Currently, many new schools are incorporating flexible learning spaces, allowing large rooms to be divided into smaller areas according to teaching needs. For instance, in Kuopio, there is a directive that new schools will feature adaptable facilities.

These flexible spaces are expected to be utilized more effectively in light of decreasing student numbers in the future, enabling their use for purposes beyond teaching without major renovations.

Research into school projects from Finland’s ten largest cities indicates a desire for rooms that facilitate small group work while also allowing for larger gatherings. Traditional corridor schools continue to be built as well, with new schools in Turku featuring conventional classroom layouts, while Porin’s facilities are organized into clusters that house two grade levels together.

Renovations to learning environments are also taking place after construction, as seen in Helsinki’s Jätkäsaari School, where temporary partitions were added due to increasing student numbers.

Since the introduction of a new curriculum in 2014, there has been a trend towards open learning spaces, though opinions vary among teachers about their effectiveness. Although the Finnish National Agency for Education reported that only 2-4% of schools have such open spaces, future construction of schools must prioritize climate, environmental sustainability, psychosocial safety, and bullying prevention.

Glass walls are often used for monitoring purposes, though they can distract students due to the visibility of passersby. Insights from architects and education professionals contribute to ongoing discussions about improving school environments in Finland.