Orientation & Identity
New school building creates learning and living spaces designed for optimal child development
The Hans Thoma School in Oberursel demonstrates how to create a learning and living environment for vulnerable, disabled, and chronically ill children—one that provides comfort, safety, and a sense of belonging while fostering emotional and motor development. This special school serves children with learning difficulties and students with varying degrees of physical disabilities, specializing in physical and motor development as well as foundational learning support.
The Neckartenzlingen-based firm plus bauplanung won the design competition with a concept that goes beyond mere spatial programming. Their vision: to create learning and living environments where every child can thrive and find their place. The solution is an articulated building organized around a central plaza, with individual functional units experienced as distinct houses. Thoughtful material choices and varied color schemes make each zone unmistakably recognizable and accessible.
Arranged in a radial pattern, the school's buildings interweave with the landscaped zones of the site, creating clear functional divisions. This design achieves the goal of a largely single-story school with minimal walking distances and efficient traffic flow. Each classroom opens directly onto green outdoor areas, providing safe escape routes. "Inward, the buildings embrace a courtyard—a spatial archetype that balances tranquility and protection with the welcoming gesture of an embrace," the architects explain.
Surrounding the inner courtyard are all the shared spaces that define a school community: the dining hall with its lounge areas, library, black light theater (combining music and movement therapy), kiosk, teaching kitchens, and sports hall with changing facilities. A continuous canopy follows the courtyard's contour, extending to the bus stop and ensuring dry passage even in bad weather—whether reaching classrooms or enjoying the covered outdoor recreation area.
Photography Credits:
Lukas Brenner
www.lukasbrenner-fotografie.de
(Published in CUBE Frankfurt 04|22)
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