School of Architecture for Children at FARM Cultural Park

Marialuisa Palumbo, architect and senior fellow at the McLuhan Program in Culture and Technology at the University of Toronto, has developed a School of Architecture for Children at FARM Cultural Park in Favara, Italy. The program uses literary narratives—such as Harry Potter, Emilio Salgari's The Black Corsair, and Homer's Odyssey—to teach children about spatial perception and architectural concepts. Through these stories, children explore diverse spatial qualities: the magical, labyrinthine castle of Hogwarts; the adventurous, nature-driven world of the Corsair; and the mythological, sacred spaces of the Odyssey. The school aims to make children aware of the multiplicity of spaces and their identities, emphasizing that architecture articulates specific spatial ideas. The initiative is part of FARM Cultural Park, a cultural hub in Favara, and reflects Palumbo's academic focus on ecology and new media in architecture.