Rising from a greenfield site in the Allach-Untermenzing district, this spacious new school building anchors the far northwestern edge of Munich. The five-form primary school at Theodor-Fischer-Straße was designed with foresight by the city – it opened larger than its initial 205 students required. Auer Weber Architects' design orchestrates three distinct volumes into a coherent whole. The largest, a four-storey structure, sits back from the corner of Theodor-Fischer-Straße and Pasinger Heuweg, linked by a glass corridor to a three-storey rectangular building positioned closer to the street. This relationship frames the school's entrance within the resulting courtyard. To the east stands the third element: a double sports hall, half-sunken into the landscape. The composition concludes with outdoor sports facilities—grass pitch, hardcourt, sand pit, and running track—creating a gently stepped silhouette that respects the surrounding residential character. The designers kept the building height modest to complement the neighborhood's small-scale fabric of single-family homes. Yet the structures maintain a refined human scale, achieved through the broad, continuous balconies flanking the upper-level classrooms. These deep overhangs create gentle transitions between interior and exterior while visually articulating the building mass. The main building's base is subtly recessed, allowing the three upper floors to appear to float above it—a gesture that introduces visual lightness. Each level is marked by the projecting balcony bands, while continuous window ribbons flood the interior with natural light. Inside, the aesthetic is understated and refined. Classrooms feature modular, flexible furnishings that adapt easily through whiteboards, media technology, individual tables, and mobile cabinetry—supporting diverse learning approaches. Beyond the classrooms, administrative offices occupy the ground floor alongside workshop spaces and the dining hall. A restrained palette of natural materials and soft green accents creates warmth and brightness, while beige and white tones maintain quiet sophistication throughout. The corridor opens onto three equal-sized learning studios on either side, with all-day activity rooms positioned between the outer classrooms, complemented by inclusion spaces, staff rooms, and auxiliary areas. These flexible all-day spaces provide room for homework and recreation.

www.auer-weber.de

Photography Credits:

Aldo Amoretti
www.aldoamoretti.com

(Published in CUBE Munich 02|23)