The LED Nordic team is pleased to invite you to a hybrid seminar on 15 April 2026. The seminar is open to everyone interested in the design, research or use of physical learning environments — including researchers, municipal representatives, educational administrators, school leaders, teachers, architects and designers.
The event will feature:
- Research insights from the LED Nordic project (2024–2026)
- Case examples of recent school design in Iceland
- A keynote lecture by Professor Jennifer Charteris (Australia) on the relationship between pedagogy and space in schools
- Dialogue between educators, architects and learning environment researchers
Program highlights:
- Presentations by the hosts from the University of Iceland and the City of Reykjavik reflecting educational environments in Icelandic school buildings of recent design.
- Nordic researchers showcase findings from LED Nordic project activities conducted in 2024 to 2026, including a review of Nordic learning environment research and photo documentation collected during school visits in all Nordic countries.
- Keynote from professor Jennifer Charteris, an invited speaker from Australia, on respatialisation in schools, redesign and reimagination of pedagogy, as well as local accounts of school administration and teaching practices in innovative learning environments.
Free lunch and guided tours:
A free lunch and short tour through a recently renovated campus building, Saga, assigned to educational sciences will be offered right after the seminar. It will also be possible to visit a local school of innovative design later in the day. (Depending on the interest, we may need to limit the number of visitors based on the order of registration).
PROGRAM
LED Nordic: A Hybrid Seminar on Nordic Learning Environment Design
Edda – The House of Icelandic, Arngrímsgata 5, Reykjavik
Plenum room E-103
8:40–9:00
Arrival and registration
Chair: Anna Kristín Sigurðardóttir, University of Iceland
9:00–9:05
Welcoming words
9:05–9:35
Torfi Hjartarson, University of Iceland and Þórdís Eik Friðþjófsdóttir, Reykjavik City:
Innovative learning environments in recent Icelandic school buildings
9.35–9:50
Tiina-Maria Mäkelä, University of Jyväskylä:
Introduction to LED Nordic
9:50–10:10
Palmyre Pierroux, University of Oslo and Bodil Hovaldt Bøjer, Royal Danish Academy:
Review of Nordic research literature on physical learning environments, themes and methods
10:10–10:30
Coffee break with refreshments
10:30–11:00
Kirsten Haase, Gladsaxe Municipality, Denmark; Colin Campbell, Ecophon, Sweden; Markku Lang, Oppimaisema Oy/Sari Lehtonen City of Helsinki, Finland; Siv Marit Stavem, Norconsult, Norway; and Þórdís Eik Friðþjófsdóttir, City of Reykjavik, Iceland:
Photographs from pilot study visits to school buildings in Nordic countries
11:00–11:10
Raija Kattilakoski, Positiimi:
Inclusion and Nordic learning environment design
11:10–11:35
Jennifer Charteris, University of New England, Australia:
Respatialisation in schools: redesigning spaces and reimagining pedagogy
11:35–11:50
Gerður Magnúsdóttir, principal of Barnaskóli Kársness, Kópavogur, Iceland:
Making the most of new learning environments in daily school practice
11:50–12:00
Closing words
Saga, newly renovated campus building for educational sciences, by Hagatorg, Reykjavik
Háma, campus restaurant in Saga
12:15–13:00
Free lunch for seminar participants
13:00–13:40
A guided tour through selected parts of Saga
Barnaskóli Kársness, a preschool and compulsory school for grades 1–4,
a brand new school building at Skólagerði in Kópavogur
Barnaskóli Kársness
14:30 to 15:30
School visit