The Neuperlach district has been undergoing a remarkable transformation in recent years. The urban development project "Creating Neighbourhood Together" has breathed new life into the area and earned it recognition as a European flagship initiative. Now comes another significant addition: three new buildings replace the outdated 1970s structure that had outgrown its purpose. Designed by the acclaimed architectural firm Auer Weber, the school campus was completed in 2024 and has quickly become a benchmark for contemporary educational architecture—seamlessly integrating pedagogy, urban planning, and design. Named after its location, Campus Karl-Marx-Ring comprises three distinct elements: a three-storey primary school positioned in the quieter rear section, a triple gymnasium facing the street, and a children's centre housing the city's music and vocal school. A shared central courtyard connects all three buildings, serving as the heart of the complex.

The school follows Munich's proven learning house model: five distinct learning communities, each housing approximately 25 students and two teachers. The five-form school is organized into five clusters, one for each continent. Children navigate these spaces through line drawings and restrained pastel tones, with each continent identified by stylized animal figures—created by artist Sabine Heine in partnership with the students. This intuitive wayfinding reinforces both identity and orientation. The interior walls deliberately avoid bold colors, allowing the architecture itself to provide a serene backdrop that lets children's natural energy and creativity take center stage. Raw concrete, light surfaces, and stoneware flooring create a neutral canvas for learning. The exterior allows for greater visual expression: the base features characteristically irregular water-struck bricks, while the two upper storeys are clad in light render with expansive windows and delicate metal screens wrapped around the perimeter.

The two-storey children's centre with its music and vocal school echoes the same design language. An underground passage connects to the semi-recessed sports hall, which marks the site's boundary along the busy Karl-Marx-Ring. A planted sunken courtyard—accessible by staircase—floods the school's workshop spaces and gymnasium with natural light. BEM Landscape Architects have enriched the grounds with lush plantings that complement the architectural composition. This thoughtfully designed, multi-faceted facility for children up to age ten revitalizes the neighbourhood while establishing itself as a distinctive, unified architectural landmark that gives the district a new sense of identity.

www.auer-weber.de

Photography:

Aldo Amoretti
www.aldoamoretti.com

(Published in CUBE Munich 03|25)