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Freedom through Education

Fenne van den Heuvel
7 nov 2017
1 minuten om te lezen

'To be the best, you must learn from the best'. I have been mulling this saying over and over in my brain recently. When thinking about how to move towards a peaceful and egalitarian community, education comes first. As pointed out often in the recent weeks, education is not just about children in schools. As taboos about learning are breaking down and prosperity is once again increasing in Northern Europe, many adults are going back into education to learn a new trade or to enrich themselves.

Anyway, back to the saying: 'learn from the best' in this part of the world often immediately triggers thoughts of Finland. With a liberal education system and a serious focus on equality for all, the Finnish system covers everything a child could possibly need or run behind with in tough circumstances: school meals, doctor visits, and dentistry are all included.

Lahdelma & Mahlamaki Architects are responsible for the much-discussed school and community centre of Kastelli. Focus on new methods and improved teaching facilities have called for a design that encompasses all the new pedagogical discoveries of the past few decades. Kastelli includes space for a daycare centre for infants, an adult education centre, as well as all the stages of education in between. In order to make the building as suitable for easily overwhelmed children as possible, all methods of down-playing the size of the complex and buildings were used. As in many fields of architecture, current designs for schools are moving toward FLEXIBILITY and ADAPTABILITY. These are ideas that are central to design for a life of learning.