Sorting through architecture. Learning and living in Francke's school town reconstructed from architectural plans
Architecture as a sorting principle
[Translate to Englisch:]
Franckesche Stiftungen
Our lives are determined to a large extent by the organization that architecture gives them: from roads and paths that regulate our movements, to shopping malls and office buildings, whose function is revealed to us simply by looking at them, to our houses and apartments, in which the size, orientation or nature of the floors, walls and ceilings of the rooms tell us to a certain extent what has to happen in them, how we should live. Architecture organizes our lives.
What is true today was hardly any different in earlier times. August Hermann Francke's school town in particular is an excellent example of this, as the lives and learning of hundreds of pupils, teachers and staff had to be and were organized and consciously directed here. How this happened will be presented for the first time in two events using historical 18th century plan drawings from the Francke Foundations' archive.
Wednesday, 02/12/2025
The sorted life. How architecture influenced everyday life in the Francke Foundations in the 18th century
The lives of the many pupils, teachers and employees in Francke's school town required order and organization. This was not only achieved through regulations, but also through the built structures, through the architecture of the complex. Historical plan drawings from the 18th century are used to show how everyday life in the school town was structured, organized and sorted.
Lecture with Dr. Thomas Grunewald, moderated by Prof. Dr. Holger Zaunstöck
Wednesday, 02/26/2025
Prepared environment. On the connection between pedagogical concept and learning space in the Royal Paedagogium
Is »reform pedagogy« and the corresponding room design an invention of the 20th century? Wrong! Numerous pedagogical concepts, most of which are regarded as »innovative«, can be traced far back into history. In particular, the Pädagogium Regium, which was founded around 1700, has produced many things that are still used today (not only) at reform schools. These formative effects will also be illustrated in this lecture with the help of the preserved plans of the school rooms of the Royal Paedagogium in the 18th century.
Lecture with Dr. Michael Rocher, moderated by Prof. Dr. Holger Zaunstöck
