Conventional classrooms bring teachers and students face-to-face daily. The WEB Individualschule in Bochum operates differently. This private institution welcomes children and young people from across Germany and beyond who cannot attend mainstream schools due to health constraints. For 15 years, instructors have provided one-to-one teaching via the internet, though they regularly connect with students in person as well. Designed by Kemper Steiner & Partner Architects, the school claimed its first dedicated home in September 2018—a building that has since expanded with an additional floor and rooftop terrace. The architects thoughtfully anticipated these spatial needs during the design phase, ensuring the structural engineering could support the school's growth.

Perched on the Stahlhausen plateau overlooking Westpark, the school sits in the shadow of the Jahrhunderthalle and Colosseum—two icons of the region's industrial legacy. Yet the new building announces something different: a contemporary architectural statement marking the Ruhr's creative transformation. Precast concrete panels reference the industrial past, while an upper-floor glass façade—wrapped around the building like a ribbon of colour—signals a new era. Those vibrant hues aren't merely decorative; they give the building unmistakable character and visually express the school's personalized teaching philosophy in a language that's both bold and optimistic. Inside, the teaching staff's vision comes to life: a two-story bouldering wall. More than a striking design feature, it sees constant use and carries symbolic weight—representing the navigation of challenges and the discovery of one's own capabilities. Concrete ceilings, left naturally exposed both as cast-in-place and prefabricated panels, extend the material theme throughout. The ground floor houses administrative spaces, a generous open-plan kitchen and dining area, and a sprawling forecourt terrace. Teacher offices occupy the upper floor as individual studios. Within the foyer, the two levels flow openly into one another.

www.kemper-steiner-partner.de

Photography Credits:

Kemper Steiner & Partner Architects

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 02|23)