The Power of Architecture

Architecture can determine how we can hear in a room, what we smell, what we see when we look out of the window. Whether we feel cramped or secure, whether we feel free or lost in the expanse.
From the very beginning, rooms and buildings in Waldorf schools were to be designed in such a way that they would promote the students' learning and development. In addition to current architectural trends, Rudolf Steiner's suggestions always played a role. The buildings were to be based on organic and geometric forms found in nature and arches, curves, unusual angles and colors were to make the buildings appear more natural; roofs were designed as bowls or caps. Especially in the 1970s and during the boom period of Waldorf school buildings, architects from Waldorf schools worked together in working groups, which resulted in the recognizability of Waldorf school buildings.
Today's Waldorf schools can look very different - and yet they also use organic elements. How do today's architects design schools and other Waldorf facilities? How do they develop their drafts together with the schools? This issue is dedicated to this topic, starting with the history of Waldorf architecture by Lars Frerichs, followed by articles by Thomas Maschke about Mono Architekten, as well as by Matthias Zimmer and Pieter Van der Ree and Yaike Dunselmann.
As always, there are also many other inspiring articles in this issue. Hiltrud Kamolz describes the human pedagogical effects basket weaving can have on ninth graders, Jessica Gube reports on Asterix and Obelix in the classroom and Elisabeth Menzel describes after-school care in Magdeburg. René Herrenkind portrays a very young bearer of the swimming skull and crossbones badge.
Starting with this issue, the #waldorflernt series will continue online on our website. Instead, two new series will begin in the magazine, one by Wolfgang Müller with questions and answers on anthroposophy and one on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by Gunter Keller.
By the way, the Romans celebrated the «February» purification festival in the second month of the year, which concerned both the external cleansing of the house and body and the internal cleansing of bad habits.
Wishing you an interesting read and a cleansing February!