The Function of Museums on Children’s Architectural Design and Cultural Heritage Education: Case of the National Museum of Finland

Abstract

The aim of architectural design education for childrenis to create awareness for their living area and cultural heritage and toconstitute conscience on city and built environment. For this reason there aremany different programmes and workshops for children and young people organizedby chamber of architects or independent institutions in USA and Europeancountries. The countries are trying by these studies to spread architecturaleducation in every section of society. The numbers of these activities areaugmenting from day to day, even architecture takes a place in nationaleducation programmes of many countries. Learning is not limited by book orschool in present-day. Museums defined as a “classroom without walls” areimportant places in education. In this paper the function of museums inchildren’s architectural design education is discussed in the context of TheNational Museum of Finland’s activities. The impressions are based on atechnical visit realized in 2011. This paper aims to show how the authentic andtraditional Finnish architectural heritage is transferred to children throughdifferent learning methods such as looking, touching, reading and playing byusing the drawings prepared in three different languages, models, toys and realpeaces.