Learning in the 21st century still takes place in formal learning spaces such as classrooms and lecture halls. As a result of a dynamic, complex and increasingly global society and working world, informal learning spaces have also been gaining in importance for some years: co-working spaces, cafés, city squares, libraries, parks, etc. are sometimes better suited for learning than classic learning spaces and are characteristics of today’s learning culture.  

T The growing use of digital educational resources and the increasing use of digital media in higher education have given rise to other teaching-learning settings: digital learning spaces. The Corona pandemic catalyzed the development of digital learning spaces. In this process, digital learning spaces also influence the requirements for the design of physical learning spaces.  

Since 2019, SRH University Heidelberg /Germany together with its two partner universities, Universitá degli Studi di Firenze /Italy and Universidade do Minho /Portugal have been dealing with the learning spaces of the future from different perspectives as part of the LEARN[IN] project. For example, the partner universities in LEARN[IN] I investigated the transformation from formal to informal learning spaces at the intersection of architecture, urban planning and education during the 2019-2020 funding period. The developed project ideas set impulses for possible further developments. The focus of the LEARN[IN] II project in the funding period 2021-2022 was digital learning spaces, the follow-up project LEARN[IN] III Learning Spaces Prototypes creates a counterpart that focuses on the quality of concrete spatial learning settings that are closely linked to digital environments. To this end, the SRH Heidelberg campus was used as a learning and experientimental space. Based on the experiences in LEARN[IN] II, in LEARN[IN] III specific spatial concepts and prototypes for concrete digital learning settings for the SRH Heidelberg campus were developed and built. 

The concept envisioned a three-part blended learning event series with an online conference, an online workshop, and a face-to-face event, the Building Workshop in Heidelberg.