Maatulli School and Kindergarten / Fors Arkitekter

Helsinki's new primary school and kindergarten are designed to harmonize with its natural surroundings. The design is informed by research indicating that an educational institution built from wood and closely connected to nature has a positive impact on children's mental and physical health. Maatulli School and Kindergarten, located in a lush park in Helsinki's Tapulikaupunki district, is home to 700 school pupils and 238 kindergarteners. The school is organized as a village of five wooden buildings, arranged around a circular green courtyard known as "The Forest Glade." The school and its outdoor learning environments seamlessly integrate into the surrounding park landscape, preserving the existing terrain and trees.