Vuosaari High School
- Helsinki
- 2021
Lamminrahka School was commissioned by the city of Kangasala, but it also welcomes students from
nearby Tampere.
Built over three floors, the school comprises five wings connected by a central atrium, complete with
high ceilings. According to the pre-selection jury, the interiors are beautiful and light-filled with expanses
of wood and brick creating a warm and pleasant ambiance. The dining room in the atrium also serves as
a social and meeting space as well as an auditorium for the school community.
On the other side of the building, the spaces dedicated to younger children have lower, timber-clad
facades. The outdoor areas, which include a small woodland, offer excellent opportunities for play,
learning and exercise.
The school was commissioned by the city of Kangasala, but it also welcomes residents from nearby Tampere. Alongside primary school classes, the building houses pre-school and day care groups. In the evening, it is handed over to local sports and other clubs. These lend themselves to a variety of different uses. The dining room in the atrium also serves as a social and meeting space as well as an auditorium.
The bricks that make up the frontage are all laid by hand. At the other side of the building, the spaces dedicated to younger children have lower, timber-clad facades. The outdoor areas, complete with a small woodland, offer excellent opportunities for play, exercise and learning.
Lamminrahka is designed to accommodate 140 children at day care and 665 primary school children. Plans are already in place to develop the site further, with facilities due to be built for 400 lower secondary school pupils. Uptake of places remains limited as the new Lamminrahka residential neighbourhood remains under construction for the time being. However, the school is already well on its way to establishing itself as a hub for the local community.
Source: Finlandia Prize for Architecture 2024 Jury.