Renovation and Extension of a Modular School in Schulzendorf

Architects: zanderroth architekten, Berlin; Sascha Zander, Christian Roth with Guido Neubeck, Berlin

Assistant: Hanael Fesz

Structural engineer: Ingenieurbüro für Bauwesen; Volker Krienitz, Schulzendorf

A facade of woven willow reeds, reminiscent of a basket, envelops the pupils and teachers in the school in Schulzendorf. This thriving community on Berlin’s southern edge required new classrooms to accommodate the growing number of children. The grounds host a number of buildings: a school dating to the 1930s, a multi-purpose hall from the 1990s, a more recent day-care centre, and a “Magdeburg Type” school building, which was erected in 1965 with prefabricated wall and ceiling components.

In order to give the ensemble more cohesion, instead of inserting another free-standing building, the architects proposed an addition to this East German school type — the same design was used for a number of schools; the result is a larger building with greater presence at the urban scale.

On two sides the existing building is now adjoined by the new classroom wings, the formerly windowless transverse ends have disappeared and courtyards — which were previously exposed to the elements — were integrated in the new overall structure as interior, glass-covered light wells. The circulation spaces now circumscribe these atria. Between these two voids, the circulation spaces widen and serve as meeting points.

The facade employs a ventilated cavity; its skin is made of willow reeds and seamlessly links the existing building to the additions, rejuvenating the 1960s structure and integrating it in the cube-shaped building massing. Recessed spaces on the ground floor provide a setting for a covered break and entrance zone, as well as outdoor seating for the school cafeteria. The entrance leads directly to the assembly hall, which extends over the entire height of the building and opens up to the sky at the top.

A colour scheme making use of bright tones embellishes the circulation spaces and the areas accessible to the public and imbues the interior with a cheerful atmosphere. A variety of colours cover the walls, parapets, floors and ceilings. The school cafeteria doubles as municipal boardroom, and the entire school as municipal forum.

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This article is an excerpt from DETAIL — Review of Architecture

   

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