The publication MiniMAO: Architecture and design for curious young minds and busy hands by the Museum of Architecture and Design is dedicated to fostering spatial literacy in children. Through play and educational tasks, they learn what constitutes good architecture and design. They also discover the meaning of interdisciplinarity and the researcher’s approach taken by creators, which must always stem from the user’s perspectives and needs for a high-quality living environment.

It aims to cover all scales—from urban planning to furniture details—as well as the history of architecture, design, and the challenges of contemporary practices. By exploring individual topics, it encourages children to learn about various research processes through their own artistic expression.

In 2026, the Museum of Architecture and Design received the Golden Cube Award for printed media for the Slovenian edition of MiniMAO: Architecture and design for curious young minds and busy hands (MiniMAO igrarije), presented by the Center of Architecture Slovenia. The jury noted that one of the project’s greatest values is making architecture accessible and playful for children. The publication does not present architecture as a distant or purely professional discipline, but rather as an essential part of everyday life.

You can get your own copy of MiniMAO Playtime in both Slovenian and English in the MAO online Shop.