Lagmansgården Reform School: A Finnish Model

Located on the west coast of Finland, Lagmansgården Reform School explores how architecture can be a tool for care. Designed for children and adolescents who need intensive foster care and special education, the project weaves living, learning, and therapeutic spaces into a unified whole.

Commissioned by state-owned Finnish company Senate Properties, the project was awarded to Anttinen Oiva Architects following an architectural competition in 2020.

A school and home

Designed to provide a secure domestic environment that fosters emotional stability, Lagmansgården is more than an educational facility; it is a rehabilitative system integrating education, care, and psychological support.

The facility integrates two primary functions: a school and residential units. These are supported by learning spaces, recreational areas, administrative offices, a kitchen, and a dining hall. It includes 20 rooms across four residential units, designed to foster a domestic atmosphere rather than the feel of a traditional institution.

Nature as therapy

A defining element of the project is its relationship to the landscape. An old-growth pine forest surrounds the site, serving as the foundation for the entire architectural master plan. The buildings occupy the southern edge of the site to preserve the most ecologically sensitive areas of the forest and provide students with a direct connection to nature.

The complex is organized around an internal courtyard, the functional heart of the school, that opens toward the coast. This central space accommodates play areas and sports facilities designed to encourage physical activity and outdoor life. Drawing on the building traditions of the Ostrobothnia region, the single-story structures feature simple lines and deep overhanging eaves that protect the facades and enable year-round use of the outdoor spaces.

A continuous, unified roof brings the various programs together under a single structure, establishing a coherent architectural identity. The design language is restrained, intended to create an accessible, welcoming, and durable environment.

A model for the future of educational facilities

The school building occupies the northern side of the courtyard with its main common spaces – a dining hall, library, breakout rooms, and lounge areas – overlooking the space through expansive timber and glass walls. The classrooms, however, face onto the quiet of the forest. Designed for flexibility and varied teaching styles, these spaces reflect a contemporary pedagogical approach that treats the physical environment as an essential part of the learning process. The hallways are wide enough to function as informal gathering areas.

A prominent feature of the project is the extensive use of timber. The structural frame, facades, and most interior surfaces are constructed from cross-laminated timber, much of which has been left exposed. Treated with a translucent finish that preserves the material’s natural tone, the facade is a contemporary take on traditional batten cladding. The light-colored standing-seam metal roof conceals the building services. Beyond its appearance, the choice of timber is an environmentally sustainable solution that creates a warm, domestic atmosphere.

Sustainability was a primary focus of the project from the outset. The building is equipped with geothermal heating and a photovoltaic array to generate renewable energy. Through its compact massing, timber construction, and energy-efficient systems, the complex is Senate Properties’ lowest carbon footprint project to date.

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Design through collaboration

A key feature of the project was the direct participation of students and staff in the design process. Interior color palettes were refined based on student and staff feedback. Students also made several furniture pieces, including the tables in the breakout areas.

Inside, plywood surfaces and CLT walls create a bright environment with a natural feel, while the color palette echoes the tones of the surrounding forest. Six wood panels by artist Camilla Vuorenmaa complete the school building. Commissioned by the Finnish State Art Commission, the works are both carved and painted.

The project prioritized local construction expertise, with a split-contract approach allowing mid-sized regional firms to bid on the tender, while local companies and subcontractors performed the work. Offering an innovative take on the intersection of architecture, education, and social welfare, Lagmansgården Reform School stands out for its spatial clarity and therapeutic interior environment.

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