Innovation & learning - A multifunctional building that will make the students think! - Dalum Agricultural College in Odense.
Lars Skinhøj at ARK + developed this multi-space-building at Dalum Agricultural College. The project is a study in innovation and learning, was completed in January 2018, and has been selected as a winner of the Build -2018 Architecture Awards: "Best Multi-Functional Building Design - Denmark".
The project is based on creating a building that ideally can accommodate all the diverse and complex parts of the innovation process, but at the same time is a simple and clean space where light, air, and natural materials create clearness and overview. Here great thoughts can be created, and the ability to think outside the box can be fostered. The building is created for multi-functional use in different user scenarios. - For both innovation, learning, and presentation.
Innovation is not a linear movement from A to B, where you can specify each step in a process towards perfection. Innovation and creative development is a lot more messy and complex size, where hundreds of different aspects must be taken into consideration. Along the way, you must often reject an idea and start again but if aware and analytical, you will find yourselves hopefully better equipped to take the next step to think outside the box. This is essential learning for students all over. And even more in a future knowledge-society, where the sharp and progressive outperforms. The question is: Are our regular static classrooms optimal for this divergent and constantly changing process of education?
For many years I have been working with different parts of concept development and innovation, It is only natural but still exciting to use this experience and knowledge in collaboration with a school like Dalum to create frames and spaces that support and promotes this process. "The future looks extra exciting when we have the tools to grab it.
Ark-viz - Innovation center:
Innovation, teaching & life in school:
Forget about standard classroom teaching!
Academy of Agricultural Business in Odense dedicated a whole week to innovation in the new innovation-center designed by ARK +
With their minds full of inspiration, the students will pitch their very best ideas, and after a rigorous selection process, the team will be left with 5-6 really good ideas that in the course of the week will be turned into to business concepts. The students will pull on the school's external network and refine the ideas in collaboration with professional business developers and innovators. The students will be pushed out of their comfort zone and be challenged on their creativity, adaptability, and business sense. The weekends in the "Lions Cave", where four professional business developers and entrepreneurs select their favorite project.
Today is a special day! 04.07.2017- Together with Dalum Agricultural College, we have made the first construction step in one of the really exciting projects I've been working on in recent months: The design of an innovation- learning- and multi-purpose house in Odense, with inspiration for all those involved in innovation, schools and teaching.