Arkki organized workshops on the new school environment for Malmi in collaboration with the City of Helsinki’s Urban Environment Division, targeting 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 9th-grade students from Malmi Comprehensive School’s Pohjola and Talvelantie campuses.

Each grade level focused on different aspects in their workshops. The youngest students, those in 2nd grade, explored the school’s color schemes, material choices, and details; 4th-grade students concentrated on the school’s outdoor spaces and yard; 6th-grade students delved into the school’s interior spaces; and 9th-grade students considered the school’s exterior appearance and structure, based on discussions about the types of spaces and functions that make a school effective.

All classes began their workshops by examining their current school environment. The students photographed the school and discussed important design-related questions with a facilitator. During the design workshops, students created their own proposals by drawing, gluing, cutting, building models, and constructing Lego models.

In addition, each class participating in the workshops was given a survey where they could respond to topics beyond their specific grade level’s focus. An exhibition of the work produced in the workshops was held at Malmi Comprehensive School’s Talvelantie campus. Students who had not participated in the workshops could visit the exhibition and share their thoughts on the future of the new school environment.

Each workshop was also attended by a representative from the City of Helsinki’s Urban Environment Division. The materials produced by the students in the workshops were forwarded to the architects designing the new school environment.