Alternative schools have had an undisputable innovative influence on the major (conventional) schooling since their formation in the first half of the 20th century. They have brought new ideas and methods that have been partially or fully adopted by schools that do not even consider being alternative. Architectural language formed together with the alternative education (Waldorf, Montessori, Dalton, Jena etc.) and responded to their specific needs and philosophies – specific shapes, layout, new forms of learning areas etc. Aim of this article is to choose and describe some principles of alternative school architecture, which could be used for new buildings and reconstructions of traditional schools. Method of the research was analysis of chosen alternative school buildings that were realized mainly in Europe and the USA, their qualitative evaluation and description of typological and architectural principles. According to the research outcomes, specific typological, constructional and material solutions were chosen, which are possible to apply also to common learning areas designing. Conclusions of this research can be used in practice (by designing of new buildings and reconstructions of school buildings) and in the education of architectural designing and building typology. .
Alternative to Alternative Schools
