Introduction
The vision of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative advocates for innovative educational frameworks that combine sustainability, inclusivity and aesthetics. The SENSE. project aligns with this vision by promoting a holistic approach that equally integrates empathy and aesthetics into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education.
Current educational spaces often have a segregating and disciplinary function. Underlying this is a common understanding of spatial design as a kind of behaviourist blueprint that aims towards predictable and measurable outcomes, much as a cake recipe promises a sweet result. Schooling has long favoured predictability, but such control over fixed educational spaces can work counter to the development of inclusive environments for learning. SENSE. set off to disseminate its educational approach and spatial vision in 13 living labs.
Drawing on the success of these innovative STEAM Labs across Europe, this policy brief presents a strategy for developing sustainable STEAM spaces in line with the New European Bauhaus vision. By rethinking traditional classroom structures, incorporating flexible learning environments and integrating the arts, we aim to dismantle outdated perceptions and foster a new generation of scientifically literate and socially aware citizens.