Guidelines for Designing an Effective Learning Complex for Child Labors (Case Study: City of Isfahan)

Child labor is an inseparable phenomenon in the structure of developing countries and third world nations. Numerous claims have been made about the benefits of the learning environment on child labor’s life. Individuals do their activities in designed environments, which can influence them. There were few studies on designing an educational place for child labors, especially in Iran. The purpose of this study is using an architectural approach to absorb child labors into an educational place in Iran Isfahan. After running library studies about child labors and the effect of place on people, in a two years, many field studies have been done such as: observing child labors lifestyle, their work condition, and visiting their support centers. A total of 45 child labors between the ages of 12-18 have been interviewed, and then some results of this interview were examined on a child labors’ help center building. It confirms and completes the results of interview. Initial evidence shows that there is a gap in educational system. Regular schools cannot be responsible for child labors’ needs. So, first, the child labor’s personal needs were discovered, then some of the architectural parameters that affect their educational achievements were introduced. The focus of architectural guidelines in this study is in three parameters: well-designed physical space, sense of ownership and social support. It uses architecture to give child labors’ lost social identity back.