The future education sector in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is undergoing rapid transformation as schools respond to emerging technological and societal demands. Core trends include personalized learning, collaborative knowledge b...
The future education sector in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is undergoing rapid transformation as schools respond to emerging technological and societal demands. Core trends include personalized learning, collaborative knowledge building, and the cultivation of creative problem-solving abilities. In this context, the 2022 Revised Curriculum and the High School Credit System have accelerated the establishment of science invention classrooms and Maker Spaces as environments where interdisciplinary convergence and idea realization occur. However, existing studies have tended to focus on the physical placement of advanced equipment rather than examining how spatial utilization supports the development of core competencies. This study aims to analyze the spatial utilization characteristics of high school Maker Spaces that contribute to the cultivation of Core Competencies outlined in the 2022 Revised Curriculum and to propose an optimal design model for future-oriented educational spaces. A combined research design integrating literature review and comparative case analysis was employed. The literature review established a theoretical foundation for core competencies and future learning environments based on policy documents and prior research. From this review, a spatial analysis framework with five dimensions—Flexibility, Collaboration, Technical Integration, Creativity & Innovativeness, and Safety & Comfort—was derived. Using this framework, the spatial configurations and operational characteristics of five high school Maker Spaces were examined through secondary documents, architectural plans, and visual data. A cross-case comparison was then conducted to identify shared features and distinctive spatial strategies. The analysis revealed that Maker Space design structures and functional utilization patterns vary considerably depending on school type, founding body, and educational mission. All cases showed strong performance in Technical Integration and Creativity & Innovativeness, while differing approaches to Collaboration and Safety emerged as the primary factors shaping each space’s identity. Two design models were identified: the Collaboration and Research-Focused Integrated Model, predominant in specialized and science-focused schools, and the Practical Production and Safety-Focused Model, common in vocational schools. The former emphasizes spatial openness, flexible interaction, and integrated layouts, whereas the latter prioritizes functional zoning, safety systems, and specialized equipment operation. Findings indicate that the optimal Maker Space design is derived not from a standardized form but from functional prioritization aligned with each school’s educational goals. Accordingly, this study suggests the following design directions: securing a safe and stable learning foundation through functional zoning in high-risk environments; ensuring sustained technical integration through continuous investment in equipment and digital infrastructure; strengthening collaboration and flexibility by reducing physical boundaries and applying integrated layouts; and establishing planning processes that align spatial decisions with curriculum and operational objectives.