The BesT school in The World - Suomen rakennustaiteen museo

suomen rakennustaiteen museo finlands arkitekturmuseum museum of finnish architecture
kasarmikatu 24, 00130 helsinki, finland +358 (0)9 85675100 www.mfa.fi
The Best School in the World
Exhibition at the Museum of Finnish Architecture, June 8th–September 25th 2011
Finnish students are top performers in the OECD’s PISA studies, but what’s the secret
to the success of the Finnish education system? The MFA explores this question from an
architectural perspective: In what type of environments does learning take place today,
and what kind of physical settings are the most conducive to successful learning? The
exhibition examines how contemporary school architecture addresses the varied needs
of today’s learners and multiform teaching methods.
The core part of the exhibition looks at school architecture from the 2000s, an abridged
version of which featured at the Venice Biennale of Architecture in autumn 2010. The
seven schools presented in detail offer a varied sample of functional and architectural
solutions.
Schools from 1900 to the 1970s are presented with original drawings from the museum’s
collections and texts providing a decade-by-decade historical overview. Also
featured is a textual summary of the Finnish school system from its inception to modern
times. Schools from the 20th and 21st centuries are additionally illustrated with slide
shows, which also provide a sneak preview of new schools that are currently under planning
or construction.
The seven highlighted schools
Strömberg School, Helsinki, 2001. Kari Järvinen and Merja Nieminen Architects SAFA
Viikki Teacher Training School, Helsinki, 2004. ARK-House Architects
Hiidenkivi Comprehensive School, Helsinki, 2005. Häkli Architects
Sakarinmäki School and Day Nursery, Helsinki, 2006. FLN Architects
Comprehensive School in Joensuu, 2007. Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects
Enter Upper Secondary School and Vocational College, Sipoo, 2007. K2S Architects
Kirkkojärvi School, Espoo, 2010. Verstas Architects
The exhibition is produced by the Museum of Finnish Architecture.
Exhibition catalogue
The exhibition’s 80-page English-language catalogue is designed especially for international
audiences. Featuring a rich accompaniment of visual material, The Best School in
the World: Seven Finnish Examples from the 21st Century includes three expert essays
and a detailed presentation of the schools. Available for €20 at the museum shop
On the web
An expanded package of information about the history of Finnish school architecture is
available on the web. Please visit our website: www.mfa.fi/architecture
Turn

suomen rakennustaiteen museo finlands arkitekturmuseum museum of finnish architecture
kasarmikatu 24, 00130 helsinki, finland +358 (0)9 85675100 www.mfa.fi
Upcoming events
The museum will organise guided tours of schools in the Helsinki metropolitan area which
are featured in the exhibition. Other upcoming events will include lectures, discussion
panels and tailored workshops for school groups. For details on the August-September
events calendar, please visit the museum’s website or Facebook page. If you wish to sign
up for our emailing list, please send your details to hanna.galtat@mfa.fi.
Guided tours
Weekdays €60, weekends €80 + admission €5/€2.50/€0.
Maximum 25 participants per tour. Please book in advance: tel. +358 (0)9 8567 5100.
Opening hours
Tue, Thurs, Fri 10:00–4:00 pm
Wed 10:00 am–8:00 pm
Sat–Sun 11:00 am–4:00 pm
Closed for midsummer June 24–25th
June 23rd open 10:00 am–2:00 pm.
For further information
Inquiries and press images:
Information Officer Hanna Galtat, tel. +358 (0)9 8567 5111, hanna.galtat@mfa.fi