Modular Counteracts Shortage

The result will be compact buildings with calm and clean geometries, with restrained façades and yet distinct emphasis on the entrance areas. Thus, despite the consistent design grid that forms the basis of modular construction, a lightness is created that can fit into a wide variety of situations. The glazed entrance areas enable communication between inside and outside, providing orientation and places of encounter and community. Inside, a variety of meeting and informal learning zones are created. The classrooms are characterised by a quiet working and learning atmosphere that serves as a background for creative development. On the upper floor, a terrace area is laid out as informal learning spaces in the open air in a green surrounding.  These school extensions are entirely in line with modern scientific findings on learning places as third educators.

The extension to the community elementary school in Cologne Lindweiler, an open all-day school, was built in a few months using modular timber construction. Nine classes can now be taught at this location. The compact two-storey structure with a façade of light-colored clinker bricks and elongated wood-aluminum window elements responds to the existing school with a calm and clear geometry. The entrance to the extension is oriented towards the existing building and creates a shared, enclosed forecourt. On entering the glazed entrance of the extension, you are greeted by an open two-storey school hall, which also functions as a representative forum for school events. The generous staircase consisting of walkways and seating steps is both a vertical access route and an educational space and creates a fresh accent with its green seating steps.

A clear horizontal emphasis defines the façade design. This applies to the clinker brick façade with its joints as well as to the horizontal, long window elements. This creates a sense of lightness despite the consistent design grid based on the modular construction method. The balance of transparency and opacity offers an optimal ratio of natural lighting, summer heat insulation and solar gains. The ribbon windows and post-and-beam constructions in the entrance area enable communication between inside and outside, creating places of encounter and community. To avoid long, monotonous corridors, these are widened by recesses in the area of the differentiation rooms and provided with daylight as well as seating niches for the pupils in the same fresh shade of green as on the main staircase. This creates pleasant communication areas and places for informal learning in front of the classes. The classrooms are kept discreetly neutral and bright. The result is maximum utilization of daylight, but also a quiet working and learning atmosphere that serves as a canvas for creative development. In line with modern scientific findings, this school extension is a third educator.