The Blue House
Kindergarten and comprehensive school as an extension of the Jewish Campus
In Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, the Pears Jewish Campus Berlin has been established as a comprehensive school for children and adolescents, encompassing a school, nursery, and kindergarten. The building's organically curved form immediately stands out. It is surrounded by a landscaped schoolyard and additional open spaces dedicated to sports and recreation.
Built from masonry and concrete, the structure commands attention through its striking palette—earning it the moniker "The Blue House." The glazed clinker brick façade shifts in tone from sky blue to midnight blue-violet, a choice rich with meaning: blue has long been woven through Jewish history and remains so today. The main school entrance is accessed directly from street level, barrier-free. The double-height entrance hall features a mirrored ceiling as a standout architectural gesture. Adjacent staircases and elevators provide full wheelchair access to all floors. The third-floor multipurpose hall—spanning two stories—adapts readily to sports, cultural events, religious observances, and seminars alike. The fifth floor houses an auditorium with ascending seating for screenings and lectures. The building also features a dining hall and a certified kosher kitchen. Basement spaces on the building's concave side open onto the surrounding landscape. Planted cascades with broad steps guide visitors up to grade level. Continuous horizontal bands give the façade a measured, rhythmic quality.
Vertical light slots punctuating the horizontal façade bands echo a design language already present in the neighboring synagogue's interior paneling. The school building's formal vocabulary also draws inspiration from the adjacent family and cultural center. The roof—engineered as an inverted flat roof—features dual-layer waterproofing, with its surface extensively planted. The facility accommodates 450 children and young people, from nursery and preschool through twelfth grade (ages approximately 1–18). School spaces—classrooms, subject-specific studios, collections rooms, and workshops—serve the school exclusively, while group rooms are reserved for the nursery. A striking mural by Berlin street artist TOBO (Tobias Friesike) adorns the street-facing concrete wall.
Photography:
Roland Halbe
www.rolandhalbe.eu
(Published in CUBE Berlin 02|24)
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