Architecture and Future Schools
Architecture
Architecture is “the profession of designing buildings, open areas, communities, and other artificial constructions and environments, usually with some regard to aesthetic effect (dictionary.com, 2009).” Our skills are closely related to the environment where we develop, act, interact, and move. Architecture is and will always be an essential tool to build the perfect places to learn and foster each person’s abilities.
An Aesthetic Internal and External View
| Courtesy of the Architect Carolina Bernales, 2009 | Courtesy of the Architect Carolina Bernales, 2009 | Courtesy of the Architect Carolina Bernales, 2009 |
Some Future Schools Viewpoints
What experts are focused on is on building places that are pleasant to return to. In order that we are all different, unlike interests attract us. Sports, technology, science, narrative are just four of a million of areas that may interest each person. There are many facts that we have to worry to satisfy students’ needs. Consequently, there are organizations, institutes and books that give us great ideas. In the following paragraphs a book from Rotraut Walden, an organization as BSF and The DaVinci Institute will be described.
The DaVinci Institute
This institute has great ideas. Since 1997, the institute, which began as a result of Thomas Frey’s idea, “has emerged as a center of visionary thought” (daviinciinstitute.com, 2007), sets a clear view of the future of schools.
Satisfying future times, they hold the idea of learning centers. The aim of these centers is to be opened all day long so child and adults can go and learn by their own with the help of different devices. (daviinciinstitute.com, 2007)
BSF Culture
BSF is an organization created in the Yorkshire area that rose from a relationship of Sport England, the Arts Council and Yorkshire Culture. It consists on backs up from the United Kingdom’s government on educational projects of Building Schools for the Future. Building these schools technologically advanced, have more than physical objectives, but lots of deep purposes such as to appeal to promote sports and arts, develop partnership, to reflect the cultural essence of the region, and others.
If there is any place wanted to be studied for a Building Schools for the Future Programme, the authority of the locality should follow eight formal steps. There must be an assigned BSF Project Director and Project Team to work hard before achieving their goal.
BSF Culture demands the town or school that wants to build a new modern school to write about their vision of the twenty first Century and why do they need the new construction. After facts, data, graphics, demographic surveys, opinions about the business case, and meticulous studies the building and demolition of constructions may be allowed to be carried out. Finally, there is an evaluation of the new school to study the satisfaction in the buildings and their management.
(www.bsf-culture.co.uk)
Schools for the Future, Walden R.
R. Walden in his book Schools for the Future: design proposals from architectural psychology, 2008, states how architecture during our lives has always influenced the atmosphere. That is to say, buildings change the environment and how we develop in it.
This book suggests lots of details for school buildings that should be considered. The ones who build the school have to consider that we live in a world that is constantly changing. “Learning environments should be learner-centered, safe, comfortable, and equitable, in addition to being cost effective.” (hogrefe.com, 2009)
What the author says in the preface is that his purpose is to combine architecture with psychology. The idea of this book is that countries should adapt to each environmental characteristics. Even though each country is different from another one, there are still common facts in order to the inhabitants’ needs. For example, what joins the North and South Face is that the perfect temperature for a good mental work is 21ºC (or 70ºF). On the other hand, there are cultural concepts that have to be considered. (Walden R., 2008)
He finally says it is important that the ones who will use the school in the future should participate in the design of the building. The place where children live the most hours of their day should be attractive and comfortable. (Walden R., 2008)