Why architectural education?

Hille Kaukonen, Pihla Meskanen, Tiina Valpola, architects SAFA

The built environment touches us all and is part of our everyday life. We are also responsible for developing the built environment and the way it develops.

According to the Finnish Constitution, every Finn has the right to a healthy environment, the opportunity to influence decision-making that concerns their own living environment, and responsibility for the environment and the national heritage. The Land Use and Building Act, which came into force in 2000, calls for lively interaction between government and people, and guarantees citizens extensive opportunities to participate in the land-use planning and implementation process.

The idea of this website is to promote knowledge of architecture and the built environment in general education circles and in schools. The aim for the future is to bring architectural education into schools as part of civics. The built environment is the everyday living and working environment for all of us and everyone is in a position to influence its future. Knowledge and understanding increase the opportunities for bringing one’s own influence to bear.

Over the last fifteen years, architectural education in Finland has been going through an extremely active phase and has attracted widespread interest even from abroad. Numerous interesting projects and events have taken place in different parts of the country. The players in the field have become networked and have developed their expertise. The Arts Council of Uusimaa even employs a regional artist specializing in architectural education.

Information about activities, events, expertise and teaching materials has been collected into an explicit package on this website. It is easily and equally available to everyone in every corner of the land, over the Internet.

Architectural education is not concerned with age or profession; the built environment is a shared issue for all of us.

12.9.2005