Less a house than an open spatial configuration, the school offers distinct areas with their own logic and in which each pupil can develop their individual nature and abilities. Both the structures and the stimulating natural environment offer numerous opportunities for communication, play, and learning, where children can develop their imagination, social awareness, and social skills. Protected areas, that invoke feelings of security, alternate with areas that are more open towards the garden and park.
From the forecourt and hall to the garden, terrace, and classroom, each area defines its own realm, extending inward and outward according to its inherent order. Here, every pupil discovers personal places and favorite spots that help relationships and connections to evolve. Partially glazed from above, the entrance hall serves both as a gathering space for events and celebrations, and as a vantage point overlooking the courtyard and school garden. In summer, the terrace extends activities outdoors. The music room, equipped with movable partitions toward the main hall, transforms easily from classroom to performance space. The program also includes spaces for medical treatment and therapies.
Level 1
The school is accessible from the south, with a sheltered waiting area for small buses providing barrier-free entry. Adjacent classrooms can face quiet, landscaped areas thanks to the layout of the sports hall and ancillary spaces. Outside of school hours, the sports hall can be used independently for community events without requiring visitors to enter the building.
- Client
- Landratsamt Heidenheim
- Architects
- Behnisch Architekturbüro
- Address
Brückenstraße 12
89542 Herbrechtingen
Germany- Competition
2000, 1st prize
- Gross Area
4.450 qm/ 48,000 sq.ft
- Gross Volume
19.000 cbm / 671,000 cu.ft
- Photography
Roland Halbe
- Downloads
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Sections
Designed for flexibility, the building features open floor plans with non-load-bearing walls, allowing spaces to adapt easily to changing functions. The complex can also be extended towards the north in the future. Constructed with simplicity from natural, renewable materials, the horizontal structures employ a hybrid system of timber and reinforced concrete. The roofs are covered with pebbles and planted around the skylights in order to keep off excess heat.
