School with Space to Learn
New primary school campus featuring three sections, a full-service dining facility, and expansive outdoor learning areas
When a design's core principles can be realized exactly as envisioned, it reflects the strength of the architectural concept. This three-form primary school by Architektei Mey—complete with canteen, childcare facilities, specialist classrooms, and support spaces—exemplifies this approach. The design earned a shared second-place award in the competition. Positioned strategically, the building creates a generous, continuous outdoor area that connects seamlessly to the sports hall. Its angled form partially encloses the space while effectively dampening noise from the surrounding residential neighborhood. Pebble patterns organize the outdoor area, offering students diverse spaces for movement and gathering.
A vestibule opens into the assembly hall, which extends generously toward the schoolyard and accommodates events of all kinds. The sweeping staircase doubles as seating for the auditorium while providing access to the upper floor classrooms. Flanking each classroom are differentiation spaces and expanded corridors that function as flexible learning zones. This layout supports year-based clusters while remaining adaptable to evolving pedagogical approaches and groupings. The canteen sits at ground level adjacent to the schoolyard, with a dedicated service entrance on the north side for efficient supply deliveries. Faculty rooms, administration, and school social services occupy the southern ground floor—a location that fosters quiet, focused work away from foot traffic, yet remains conveniently visible near the main entry. A private, partially covered outdoor retreat offers teachers respite during breaks. Concrete surfaces throughout the interior moderate the building's thermal performance, while oiled industrial parquet and wood accents introduce warmth and visual relief.
As mentioned earlier, the competition design was realized virtually unchanged—with one exception: skylight bands replaced the original pneumatic roof above the assembly hall.
Photography:
Eibe Sönnecken
www.fotografie-eiben.de
(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 03|24)
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