The aim for the school extension was to comply with the passive house standard. In order to optimally implement this requirement, the school extension is designed as a compact structure and zoned in three layers in the floor plan: the main usable rooms are oriented to the south, the closed side rooms are arranged to the north, and the access zone is located in between.
On the ground floor, the break hall with cafeteria forms the anchor point. It opens over its full length to the south onto a terrace and the garden of the University Museum and to the east to the schoolyard. A three-storey airspace with a skylight connects the break hall with the classrooms on the upper floors. This airspace is the central element of the school extension and serves as a communication and development area.
The two similarly designed upper floors are divided into the south-facing classrooms and music rooms, the gallery-like inner access corridor with seating and an adjoining room zone with toilets, teaching materials and technology rooms to the north. A spacious staircase in the airspace connects the classrooms to the break hall.
Reduction, robustness and colour – these three terms can be used to describe the material concept for the school extension. The number of materials used has been reduced to a minimum. Robust surfaces that are therefore well suited for school operations were chosen. These are exposed concrete with a light wood structure on the walls and acoustically effective wall cladding made of slotted and lacquered MDF panels.
Die production: Reckli GmbH, Herne
[Source: Hess/Talhof/Kusmierz Architekten und Stadtplaner] (http://www.hot-architekten.de/html/mar_s2/mar_s2.html)
Photos: Florian Holzherr
