Seamlessly Integrated
Extensions with recyclable profiled glass facades establish new standards for school campuses
A connecting building and gymnasium were replaced by an expanded vocational school featuring a new classroom wing, sports hall, and three workshops. Despite the connecting passages integrated into the hillside, the five structures maintain their individual identity—separated by carefully preserved sightlines and visual connections. By respecting the natural topography, the entire campus reads as a cohesive whole, naturally anchored below the castle. Complementing the main buildings are an outdoor sports field, expansive schoolyard, and parking area.
The three workshops—for woodworking, construction, and natural stone—share a unified structural design across two floors, each with five meters of clear ceiling height. Connected on the ground level and integrated with the existing campus, they're unified by a reinforced concrete frame system that permits flexible interior planning. The entire functional space flows as a continuous environment, fostering collaborative interaction. To the campus's northwest, a new sports hall and classroom wing anchor the complex. Both structures employ the same modular structural grid and link seamlessly on the ground floor. The school building features a shared foyer that distributes access to the lower level and sanitary facilities. Positioned between the classroom wing and the natural stone workshop, the covered all-weather court sits naturally within the site's topography.
The material strategy embodies a core principle: light, transparent architecture that reflects the client's vision. Profiled glass forms a soft, translucent envelope that integrates elegantly into the landscape, especially from distant viewpoints. The glass facade offers enduring performance, dimensional stability, acoustic advantages, and superior thermal and fire protection. Generous daylight distribution throughout interiors naturally reduces dependence on artificial lighting. The profiled glass itself is manufactured sustainably and fully recyclable or safely disposable at end-of-life. Complementing materials include recycled concrete and selective aluminum details. By disciplining the material palette, the new addition achieves a coherent architectural language with the existing campus.
Photography Credits:
Oliver Rieger
www.oliverrieger.com
(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 01|23)
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