Elementary and Polytechnic School Altenmarkt - Competition (recognition award)

• Learning
• North
• Public
• Revitalization

The modernized school campus of Altenmarkt offers attractive public spaces that connects the different school types. The open space is the hub of everyday life at the campus and meeting place. Voids between the buildings provide views of the landscape and connect the campus with the neighbourhood. Equivalent to the open space on the ground floor, the connecting basement mediates between the different school types and, with the dining area, creates a common centre at the campus.

OPTIMIZED PLACEMENT OF THE SCHOOL TYPES

The polytechnic school is placed in the former elementary school building in order to maximize the use of existing spatial resources. No further green areas need to be sealed in the east. The four clusters of the elementary school are placed above the sports hall. There is enough space on the roof of the sports hall to organize the clusters with the highest possible qualities.  This further minimizes sealing of green areas.

CLUSTER

The classes are consistently oriented towards the outside. Good visual connections from the classes into the learning zones are essential. Working in small groups under teacher supervision is made possible. The flexible usability of the learning zones and connections with outside areas are particularly important to us, as adaptive atmospheres are a prerequisite for successful learning and working. With this in mind, the group room can also be used as an extended learning zone or as a separate room. Storage areas are conceived as walk-in closets.

OPEN SPACE

All learning and recreational areas have direct connections to outside areas. The clusters of the elementary school include two large roof terraces for outside classes and breaks. Pergolas and trellises provide shade and give the building an unmistakable reference to nature.  The afternoon care has its own garden. The gentle slope of the garden invites children to play and acts as a natural connection to the large garden at the east. Terraces at the polytechnic school provide the learning areas with the desired open spaces and beautiful views of the landscape.

ECOLOGY

The ecological value of the new building is of particular concern to us. Only renewable raw materials are used above ground. The bearing structure is made of wood. Glulam ceilings are used to achieve good sound insulation values between the floors. Semi-prefabricated timber elements form the external walls and are suspended from the load-bearing structure. In order to reuse the individual building components after the life span of the school, the building elements are designed in such a way that the individual parts can be dismantled. Composite materials are avoided. The elements of the floor constructions are laid loosely. A circular economy is made possible.