Amid increasing global and national interest in the built educational environment, this editorial considers developments within the Nordic countries that are investigated and discussed within the articles in this special issue. We discuss commonalities and divergences in the experiences of transition and change in the schools, located in a range…

This issue of the "European Journal of Education" examines a crucially important, though largely overlooked, area in educational design research: architecting and building physical educational environments. Effective policymaking in school design necessitates the negotiated, shared and timely input of key educational stakeholders,…

This essay considers the rhetoric of space in a rapidly transforming culture. Using Michel Foucault's concept of "heterotopias" to understand the rhetorical power of a building's disposition, it is argued that the Jewish Museum Berlin contains two heterotopias, one within the other. The first is Daniel Libeskind's original building…

Characterizing "older library buildings" as those built prior to 1960, this article discusses special problems and challenges for the librarian and architect renovator, including building codes and new requirements of differing services. (EJS)

A biographical sketch of William Robert Ware, founder of the architectural schools at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Columbia, is presented. After a review of Ware's educational background, focus is on Ware's concept of architectural education. A review of Ware's publications and contemporaries follows. (PHR)

Presents a discussion of library facility design with regard to storage needs, readers' needs, and staff needs, with emphasis on lighting, space, and movement paths (galleries, corridors, foyers, halls, arcades). Illustrative material is provided. (EJS)

Examines the storage conditions and the circumstances surrounding the film storage facility fire in Suitland, Maryland, which destroyed over 13 million feet of film. Outlines possible causes for the fire and offers recommendations for prevention of such future disasters. (JMF)

Cautions against underestimating children's intelligence and describes the development of the award winning book, "Building: The Fight against Gravity." (MKM)

Describes the damage and salvage efforts resulting from the burning of the Los Angeles Central Library in 1986, and makes several recommendations for fire and arson prevention measures and contingency salvage plans. (CLB)

Special learning environments for severely handicapped students can seldom be justified. Specially designed and often extravagantly costly physical space, which does not provide adequate opportunity for the generalization of functional skills to unmodified settings, should be viewed skeptically. The use of natural environments, without expensive…

A response to an article (EC 160 670) questioning the justification of special learning environments for severely handicapped persons comments on the importance of autonomy and choice--two features lacking in the traditional institutional environment. (CL)

This paper explores problems involving expertise of design participants and the design process hampering the creation of high quality child care facilities that promote child development. Problems addressed include architects and designers needing more knowledge of child development and operation of child care centers, the inability of those who…

Discusses the working relationship between librarians and architects in handling feasibility studies, site evaluations, budget considerations, time line predictions, and the architectural programing involved in library building projects, whether it be replacing, expanding, remodeling, or relocating. (EJS)

Architectural history is seen as one means of readjusting value systems, which can then be used by following generations. A number of creative architects are discussed who have used history in constructive new ways to enrich the content of their buildings and critical writings. (MLW)

A biographical sketch of John Galen Howard, founder of the Department of Architecture at the University of California at Berkeley, is presented. Howard's conservative outlook and idealistic nature are examined and his influence on the curriculum at the university is traced. (PHR)