Exploring the intended and actual uses of shared learning spaces in Finnish schools

Abstract Contemporary learning space design increasingly emphasises flexibility, inclusion and collaborative pedagogies. Although international research underscores the need to examine learning spaces in use, there remains limited empirical knowledge of how pedagogical and spatial intentions translate into everyday practice. This study investigates the intended and actual uses of shared learning spaces in Finnish schools, drawing on planning documents, typologies of learning spaces, time‐lapse videos and noise‐level data. The research is based on fifteen newly built or renovated Finnish comprehensive school buildings. Shared learning spaces from four schools were selected for a qualitative, comparative, detailed case study analysis that combined spatial observation with 10‐min‐interval time‐lapse coding, dual‐camera video recordings and noise‐level measurements. These were used to identify patterns of activity, circulation, acoustic conditions and spatial occupancy across the school day. Findings reveal a recurring diurnal pattern: Pedagogical use of shared learning spaces was concentrated in the mornings, whereas informal and transitional use predominated in the afternoons. Full‐class or co‐taught sessions were rare. Many shared learning spaces operated more as corridors or social lounges than active learning environments, particularly when high noise levels and movement disrupted focused work. Spatial features, including size, layout, visibility and proximity to classrooms, shaped actual use. The study highlights the gap between design intentions and realised practices, underscoring the need for more concrete pedagogical planning, professional development in spatial literacy and systematic post‐occupancy evaluation. It also demonstrates the methodological value of time‐lapse video in capturing both the dynamics and recurring patterns of school space use. In contemporary school design projects, close collaboration between architects, educators and policymakers is essential to ensure that spatial solutions align with evolving educational cultures. Achieving this alignment requires not only thoughtful design and targeted professional learning but also the continuous development of a school's pedagogical culture to support new approaches to teaching and learning. Context and implications Rationale for this study: Although international research underscores the need to examine learning spaces in use, there remains limited empirical knowledge of how pedagogical and spatial intentions translate into everyday practice. This study explores how those intentions show in shared learning spaces and what kind of empirical evidence there is on how these spaces are used. Why the new findings matter: This study reveals a gap between intended pedagogical use and everyday practice in shared learning spaces. It suggests that circulation patterns, noise and educators' limited spatial competence may constrain the recognition and activation of learning affordances. Implications for practitioners, policymakers and designers: The findings highlight the need for clearer pedagogical briefs, stronger spatial competence among teachers and systematic post‐occupancy evaluation. For practitioners, shared spaces require explicit routines, zoning and pedagogical models to support collaborative and inclusive learning. For policymakers and funders, the findings show that design quality should be assessed not only through spatial provision but through evidence of pedagogical use over time. For architects and planners, the study underscores the importance of translating abstract concepts such as flexibility and inclusion into concrete, observable learning scenarios.