Situated Learning: When Schools Meet the Ground
By Conjectures
Schools are not isolated institutions, but part of a larger social and cultural fabric. The interpenetration between school and its surroundings is essential in contextualizing learning.
How can architecture help foster place-based education?
In an urban school, an existing environment might be nothing more than an asphalt-covered courtyard. But through imaginative transformation, even these hardscapes can become vibrant play spaces that connect to the surrounding urban landscape.
Entry points are threshold moments—especially in urban schools. They are not merely passages in or out, but portals for engaging with the surrounding city.
Interstitial spaces—like alleyways or side yards—are often overlooked in urban schools, becoming underused or forgotten. Yet when thoughtfully transformed, they can become biophilic outdoor learning environments that embrace local climate and vegetation.