Maatulli School and Kindergarten

Sofia Fors

Maatulli School and Kindergarten forms a human-scale learning environment that places nature at the center of everyday learning and community life. It accommodates 940 pupils within a 10,000 m² complex, set in a 1970s Helsinki suburb characterized by prefabricated housing blocks and fragmented park spaces. Developed as a landscape-based and social gathering point, the project brings together school, city, and park into a coherent whole. The project builds on the suburb’s existing green structure, transforming it into a coherent learning landscape where buildings and outdoor spaces are closely integrated and support movement and diverse use. Beyond school hours, the building functions as a local gathering place, supporting shared use and community life.

The program is distributed across smaller building volumes connected by shared spaces around a central circular courtyard. The courtyard, “The Forest Glade,” forms the spatial core of the school, bringing light, nature and seasonal change into the everyday learning environment. The program is organized across distinct building volumes for learning (grades 0–9), dining, sports, and kindergarten, supporting clear orientation, proximity between functions and a sense of belonging. The interior is organized as a sequence of open spatial flows and zones, where variations in scale, height, and connections to outdoor spaces create a diverse and flexible learning environment.

Built in mass timber, the project is defined by a clear and consistent use of wood, with the load-bearing structure exposed to establish a spatial rhythm. Locally sourced glulam columns and beams combined with CLT floors and walls form a rational system, enabling flexible layouts and long-term adaptability. Daylight, views, and the tactile qualities of the material create a calm and inviting atmosphere, reinforcing a close connection to the surrounding landscape.

Project Gallery

Maatulli School and Kindergarten - Terrace

Maatulli School and Kindergarten - Lobby

Maatulli School and Kindergarten - Courtyard

Maatulli School and Kindergarten - Courtyard and lobby

Maatulli School and Kindergarten - Dining area and entrance hall

Ground floor plan

Sofia Fors DK

http://www.forsarkitekter.com
Vesterbrogade 115 | 1620 Copenhagen