The teaching emphasizes learning to manage complex entities, architectural design, spatial thinking and understanding an ecologically, socially and culturally sustainable environment. In the third study year, bachelor's students in architecture design a smaller public building, such as a kindergarten, museum information building, swimming hall or community center (ARK-C2021 Basics of Building Design, 9 cr) and take the Building Design Lecture Course (ARK-C2020 Building Design Lecture Course, 4 cr) as part of the compulsory studies. In master's studio courses, the tasks are more extensive; more challenging in terms of spatial programmes and urban structure, and the studio often has an external study project partner. (ARK-E1020, Studio Autumn, Building Design, 12 ect). The studio is complemented by a series of lectures related to the theme of the studio, the content of which changes annually. (ARK-E2020 Building Design Studio Lectures, 3 ect). In recent years, the studio's themes have included the expansion of the Maritime Museum Forum Marinum, the Technology Centre in Oulu and the Modular School in Turku. Associate Professor Pirjo Sanaksenaho and University Lecturer Esa Ruskeep盲盲 are the permanent faculty of the Building Design team.
The Department of Architecture at Aalto University currently has two focus areas in Building design research: Learning Environments and Museum Architecture. The MultiLED project (2024-2025), funded by the Finnish National Agency for Education, explores the possibilities of architecture education in the multidisciplinary design of learning environments together with the ORT University of Uruguay. In the FUTULAND project, the Department of Architecture collaborates with the Aalto University School of Business to study the creation processes of sustainable landmark buildings, especially inclusive museums, from the perspective of placemaking. The building design research group is led by Associate Professor, Doctor of Science (architecture) Pirjo Sanaksenaho.
MultiLED 鈥 Multidisciplinary perspectives on Learning Environment Design
FUTULAND 鈥 Landmark buildings of the future: Where sustainable architecture meets cities and international business.
The Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Learning Environment Design (鈥淢ultiLED鈥) -project by Aalto University, University of Jyv盲skyl盲, and Universidad ORT Uruguay is among the 33 approved projects by the Team Finland Knowledge (TFK) program that started in September 2023.
