New secondary school and sports hall Hafner | Konstanz
3rd Prize | New secondary school and sports hall Hafner
Konstanz
In collaboration with Atelier30
Arrival
The new school day begins on the forecourt at the junction between the new green corridor and the neighbourhood street coming from the north-west. Overshadowed by two multi-stemmed, generously underplanted sweetgum trees with circular benches floating around them, the entrance plaza is both a passageway and a place to linger. Those who arrive first will find a parking space for their bicycles close to the entrance on the east side, otherwise the large number of bicycle parking spaces are easily accessible under the grove of trees to the east.
School landscape
We see the open space directly adjacent to the break hall as a heavily landscaped school landscape on the ground floor, the first floor and the roof above the top floor. It is covered by large-crowned trees of the future and structured by lowered grass and shrub areas under the tree crowns, which, in addition to their insect-friendly abundance of flowers, also serve as retention and drainage areas. The central playground is paved with permeable concrete paving stones with partially linear lawn joints. The furnishings are multifunctional – the chill decks, located near the seating steps in the shade of the trees, are an informal meeting place even outside of break times. The open-air study room in the southeast, enclosed by a low hedge, offers space for group or individual study at long study tables, away from the hustle and bustle of the playground. The agricultural landscape to the east is bordered by a bird sanctuary planted with native trees and shrubs and a fringe of wild herbs suitable for the location. Where no playable or accessible lawn area is required, sparse, twice-mowed meadows contribute to biodiversity.
Exercise landscape
On the roof of the gym, the school landscape becomes an exercise landscape – from various calisthenics and obstacle course activities to floor trampolines, there is everything you need to combine sport and fun. Of course, there is also space for spectators: long benches where people can sit together on the backrest and more intimate seating shells for two form the ‘grandstand’ for the action on the roof. The areas are framed by drought-resistant grasses and shrubs. They are positioned so that loads are distributed as efficiently as possible at the edges.
A wide, green staircase with integrated seating steps leads to the streetball court and the boulder sculpture on the ground floor level.
Water management and biodiversity
In addition to meeting the requirements of the exercise and learning landscape, the outdoor facilities also fulfil fundamental functions of resilient and sustainable area development. These include a maximum of structurally rich vegetation areas, water-permeable surface pavements and rainwater management as a recirculation system. The roof areas of the school building are designed as retention roofs. (18 cm substrate on the solar roofs, up to 50 cm on the first floor and in the school garden area, with retention boxes with a capillary wick system for optimal precipitation retention and evaporation) The substrate layer, in conjunction with the retention boxes, stores rainwater and makes it available to the plants. In the earth-bound vegetation areas, the topography of the site allows rainwater to be fed into the planting areas and also collected in cisterns for service water use. During heavy rainfall events, excess rainwater is collected in trough infiltration systems (infiltration cascade) in the planting areas.
In addition to aesthetic considerations, all plantings are designed to make a valuable contribution to biodiversity. Through the targeted selection of different substrates, a mosaic of ecologically valuable sites is initiated, which develops into particularly species-rich plant communities through the sowing of native wild herb seeds.
Extension and renovation of two primary schools | Sassenburg
1st Prize | Extension and renovation of two primary schools
Sassenburg
In collaboration with Kauffmann Theilig & Partner
The primary school in the colourful triangle in Sassenburg is gaining a new spatial and educational quality thanks to a precisely positioned and atmospherically dense extension. The existing triangular stand-alone building with its striking, self-contained form is complemented by a single-storey extension on the south-east side – not by adding storeys or external satellites, but by an architecturally related structure that coherently enlarges and thus extends the triangle without losing its identity. This measure not only creates additional space, but also light-flooded, open spaces and a new cluster structure: four of the twelve new classrooms each form small educational units together with the open learning areas between them. The fan-shaped arrangement of the rooms allows for generous daylight and a close interconnection between indoor and outdoor spaces.
The previously difficult-to-use inner courtyard is transformed into a climatically protected centre of the school – the new market square – by a careful roofing with skylights. In future, the library and the computer room will be located there, both centrally located and with high-quality lighting. Further selective additions within the existing structure – such as the new canteen on the west corner – fit in organically and with minimal construction effort. The canteen itself is ideally positioned: right next to the entrance with generous indoor and outdoor areas, short distances for food distribution, direct delivery from outside and flexible expandability towards the corridor thanks to mobile walls. A stage and a connection to the music room can also be easily integrated.
The construction process is designed so that the school can remain in operation throughout the entire process – without an interim solution in the traditional sense. During the seven-week summer holidays, the existing components on the south-east side will be dismantled and adapted, and a more efficient façade will replace the dilapidated existing façade. At the same time, the new classrooms will be produced as prefabricated wooden containers, which will be positioned directly at their final location at the end of the summer holidays. This means that the new school year will begin in a part of the new building that is already usable. The remaining renovations – such as the canteen, the closure of the inner courtyard, infrastructure measures and work on the west façade – will be carried out over the following ten months while the school remains in operation. The remaining measures and final connections will be completed during the following summer holidays. After a year and a half, the new school building will be completely finished.
The existing school, as ambitious as it once was, proved to be overly technical and maintenance-intensive. The new design deliberately focuses on functional low-tech solutions with high didactic potential: window ventilation with optimised cross ventilation makes mechanical systems in the classrooms superfluous. Existing ventilation systems are only used where they make sense – for example, in the kitchen, canteen and interior rooms. Heat pumps with renewable energy sources such as foundation absorbers, geothermal probes and bored piles are used for heating and cooling. Static air conditioning is provided by ceiling elements, while photovoltaic systems on the roof enable the school to operate almost entirely self-sufficiently in terms of energy.
The materials and design are based on the existing structure and functionality. The new classrooms consist of self-supporting wooden containers, complemented by a wooden slat structure that completely closes the geometric triangle in the site plan. These slats also serve as weather and sun protection thanks to the photovoltaic layer above them. The roof surfaces are being renovated and the ventilation system integrated into the new roof shape. In the existing building, the façades will be made less transparent, with light-directing slats, printed glass elements and effective sun protection devices.
Last but not least, the architecture reflects the actual ‘colourfulness’ of the triangle: the students and the natural, changing landscape. Glazed, shiny and printed components capture the colours and movements of school life and the surrounding area – a lively, diverse picture that changes with the seasons. The result is a new school building that showcases the friendly, lively interaction in a clearly defined but open architectural framework – unpretentious, sustainable and full of quality of life.
Open space
The existing school grounds, nestled in the eastern residential area, are characterised by an open structure with several access points and sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. The new concept takes these positive features and integrates them into a modern, sustainable design.
The new design surrounds the triangular school building with dense, varied planting and forms a new, robust and lively playground. The organic shapes of the planting areas not only create an exciting relationship with the school building, but also internal, protected areas. The plantings open up specifically at the main entrances – the entrance via the street ‘Am Felde’ and the side entrance via ‘Bokensdorfer Weg’ – thus creating inviting entrance areas.
The schoolyard develops from the existing structures of the outdoor facilities and the new extension into a coherent outdoor space that wraps around the building. It thus develops from an extensive play area in the west of the building to a natural quiet area in the east. The break area to the west of the building is characterised by opportunities for romping, digging and playing. Here, the children are offered various opportunities for physical activity, such as a large climbing sculpture, basketball hoop, table tennis tables and additional areas for free play. The existing outdoor classroom is also integrated here and provided in a quieter, green, shaded area, which is combined with a sound garden.
Towards the east, the schoolyard develops into a shady retreat. Here there is another green classroom and green niches and areas for gardening. The furniture throughout the school grounds invites children to spend time in different ways. This allows groups of pupils to gather, interact and move around everywhere. The green spaces are designed to become denser and higher towards the edges, reducing visibility into the school grounds. The varied and site-appropriate planting areas promote ecological learning processes and sensitise pupils to environmental issues. Additional green islands respond to climatic challenges. The open space thus not only meets the requirements of a modern schoolyard, but also promotes a conscious engagement with nature and sustainability.
In the area of the northern main access, a sufficient number of bicycle racks will be retained. Access to the waste disposal area and the small boiler house will be integrated.
New Molecular Biology Building at the University of Biology on the Poppelsdorf Campus of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität | Bonn
1st Prize | New Molecular Biology Building at the University of Biology on the Poppelsdorf Campus of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität
Bonn
In collaboration with Atelier30
Urban planning concept
The four-storey new building for the molecular biology laboratory fits into the overall concept of the existing master plan as another precisely placed building block. The upper part of the building consists of a staggered technical floor and a roof terrace. Along Planstraße E, the main entrance is clearly accentuated by a recess on the ground floor, creating an inviting entrance. The landscaped forecourt with integrated bicycle parking spaces emphasises the entrance area and creates a pleasant atmosphere. Additional access points are planned in the south-western area along Campusallee and along the connecting axis between Planstraße E and Käthe-Kümmel-Straße. These will enable internal deliveries and provide access to a side entrance. To strengthen the campus identity, the ground floor around the central atrium is primarily arranged for communicative and public-oriented functions such as seminar areas, computer pools and an exhibition area in the foyer. In the urban context of the surrounding institute buildings, the façade presents itself as a finely structured ribbon façade with integrated photovoltaic elements that also serve as sun protection. Vertical façade elements add rhythm to the building envelope and serve to guide the external sun protection system. Wooden elements are planned for the parapets, which lend the overall appearance a warm, material-appropriate accent and underline the building’s sustainability strategy.
Internal and external access, spatial organisation
The new building has a central access system that connects all functional areas via short routes. The communicative heart of the building – a spacious interior with open communication zones – facilitates orientation and promotes interdisciplinary exchange. All essential vertical access elements, such as emergency staircases, technical shafts and sanitary areas, are grouped around this core on all levels. In addition to general functions and central seminar rooms, the differentiated inner courtyard with its projections and recesses and the adjacent terrace areas form the green centre of the building. On the ground floor, the exhibition area, seminar zones and functional rooms such as practical training areas, an electrical workshop and computer pools are located around this courtyard.
In addition to the emergency staircases, the upper floors are accessed via a continuous gallery-like staircase that leads directly to the communication centre. Changing seminar zones, terraces and open communication areas on all levels invite informal exchange. The staggered arrangement within the floor plans creates an exciting inner courtyard that structures and enlivens the building ensemble as a connecting element. Laboratories, evaluation areas and flexible office spaces are organised logically and according to use within the floors and are optimally connected to the access routes.
The overall result is a finely balanced spatial structure with a central communicative heart and quiet, decentralised work areas – a structure that promotes both exchange and concentrated work.
In the interests of ecological sustainability, the roof area is extensively greened with native grasses and shrubs to promote biodiversity. In addition, employees have access to another roof terrace as a recreation area with a view over the campus. A large-scale photovoltaic system is also planned to supply the building with its own electricity, making a significant contribution to its energy efficiency.
Architecture, construction and materials
The building is designed as an optimised hybrid construction in which materials are used specifically where they make functional, economic and ecological sense. The choice of materials is based on the resource-saving concept of recycling, which is to be effective throughout the entire life cycle. The primary structure will be constructed as a material-efficient reinforced concrete skeleton using semi-prefabricated elements. The use of recycled concrete is planned or being examined where it is structurally and economically feasible. The clear and consistent structural design allows the use of prefabricated building elements and enables a robust, economical construction method and an optimised construction process. The basement, stairwell cores, point-supported ceilings and fire protection components are constructed using solid construction methods. The building is reinforced by the central access and technical cores.
The façade elements are planned to be highly thermally insulated, prefabricated timber constructions with vertically structured timber cladding. The vertical sword structure in the area of the window bands serves to accommodate the integrated photovoltaic elements and at the same time structures the façade appearance. The horizontally arranged PV modules also serve as structural sun protection and integrate the necessary fire protection.
The static system – combined with a high degree of prefabrication – forms the basis for an economical, time-efficient and durable construction method. The laboratory grid is defined as 1.20 m. This results in construction grids of 3.60 m, 7.20 m and 10.80 m. Wide-span ceilings are supported by joists. The window division follows the expansion grid and allows flexible connection of mobile partition walls for variable room structuring.
The interiors are characterised by a clear material aesthetic: light-coloured wall surfaces, wooden surfaces and glass create a high-quality, light-flooded room climate. In combination with coordinated floor coverings and a differentiated colour and material concept, rooms are created that are equally suitable for concentrated individual work and open teamwork.
Redesign of the Mühlenberg School Campus | Wipperfürth
Recognition | Redesign of the Mühlenberg School Campus
Wipperfürth
In collaboration with LH Architekten and STLH Architekten
Guiding principle and urban planning
The new building for the school campus consists of three simple, interlocking volumes for the two uses, secondary school and junior high school, as well as the shared areas in between. Due to the different space requirements, the three cubes differ in area and height, resulting in a differentiated overall ensemble in which the individual uses remain clearly distinguishable. The building for the secondary school is located in the western part of the site, while the one for the secondary modern school is in the eastern part. With four and five upper floors respectively, both towers above the three-story cube for the communal areas and specialist classrooms, thus preserving the independence of both schools as separate organizational units. The building volumes for the secondary school and the communal areas each have inner courtyards to ensure that all rooms receive natural light. The arrangement of the buildings allows the new construction to be built in two phases, eliminating the need for costly interim solutions. The height gradation of the school campus follows the eastward-sloping topography of the site, minimizing the building’s footprint. Due to this topography, another partially buried “garden level” is created to the southwest under the ground floor, which accommodates additional uses in all areas. The two schoolyards can thus be arranged on different levels, extending to the southwest (secondary school) and northeast (middle school) adjacent to the building structures, thus following the basic idea of separate organizational units. Both schoolyards have the required covered areas thanks to undercuts in the building volume. The clear color scheme of the facades follows the color code for the two schools, while the central building for communal use has its own color code. The Voss Arena is getting a new entrance building, which not only allows access from the schoolyard but is also accessible directly from the street via an additional floor. The arena will thus have its own address and visibility from the street, and therefore access independent of the school grounds.
Open space
The site is accessed via a shared entrance from the north. A second entrance is provided from the south-west, via the entrance to the residential area to the south. The required parking spaces are still located here, but have been rearranged. The shared sports fields are located in the southern green belt, as are the ‘green classrooms’, and surround the schoolyards. Taking into account the need for maximum flexibility in the use of the schoolyard areas, green islands and tree plantings are also planned here to enhance the quality of the environment and improve the microclimate. The outdoor classrooms of both schools are also embedded in the green setting. Here, too, the topography is utilised and made visible with seating edges. Despite the sloping location, areas have been created that are available for rainwater retention. Lighter, but non-glare colours were chosen for the surfaces, as these absorb less radiant heat.
Building structure
The three equivalent main entrances each face the northern forecourt, are marked by building recesses and are therefore easy to find. The organisational principle of both schools is identical: the main entrances lead to the administration and staff areas located on the ground floor and to the vertical main access cores, which are arranged in the overlapping areas of the cubes. These cores also serve as transitions and connections to the centrally located shared facilities, such as the auditorium and cafeteria, and the specialist classrooms on the upper floors. At the ends of each building, there is an external staircase that serves as a second escape route. Both schools have ‘floor foyers’ on the upper floors, which provide access to the learning cluster areas. The staircases and foyers are designed differently depending on the school, which emphasises the respective identities of the schools and facilitates orientation. On the third floor, both schools have a roof terrace on the roof of the central building. The central building houses the forum, the library and the all-day area on the ground floor, while the garden level houses the two-storey auditorium and the canteen, as well as music rooms. The spacious open staircase with seating steps in the forum connects both floors. The forum and canteen are assigned to the respective schoolyards as rain break areas. The upper floors of the central building house the specialist classrooms that can be used and are required by both schools.
Materiality, construction & sustainability
The entire building above the garden level, which is designed as a solid structure, is conceived as a wood-concrete composite construction. The access and stairwell cores are constructed of reinforced concrete to meet fire protection requirements and at the same time ensure the bracing of the building. In the remaining areas, a concrete ceiling will be laid on wooden beams in a 1.25 m grid. These beams are connected to main beams in the direction of the facade and corridor walls, which rest on supports in a 3.75 m grid. This construction minimises the amount of material required for the ceilings. All wooden components are dimensioned to ensure fire protection through combustion. The materiality of the construction can thus be made visible and tangible in all areas of the building. The skeleton construction allows for a flexible response to all requirements of the room programme, and subsequent adjustments to room sizes are easily possible. The construction grid is also carried over to the exterior via the façade. Vertical wooden pilaster strips divide it, and in the base areas this grid is replaced by the main column grid of 3.75 m. Striking cantilevered window sills as the upper edge of the parapet areas form the horizontal counterpart. The varying cladding of the parapet bands made of profiled ceramic elements gives each building its own identity. The colour scheme of the pilaster strips, parapets and other closed façade areas is largely monochrome, following the colour concept for the individual areas of use: secondary school (blue), middle school (green) and secondary modern school (red). All rooms have external sun protection. The roof of the central building is intensively greened and can be activated as a retention roof; each school has its own terrace here. The roofs of the school buildings are extensively greened and equipped with large-scale PV systems. Heat is supplied by a heat pump, which can also be used for cooling in summer. Most of the rooms are equipped with underfloor heating. The optimal orientation of the rooms – the majority face north or south – minimises solar gain in summer. The proportion of glazing in the façade was designed to reduce the use of artificial lighting.
Open space planning for the Jeetzel riverbank, Amtsgarten park and old cemetery | Lüchow
Recognition | Open space planning for the Jeetzel riverbank, Amtsgarten park and old cemetery
Lüchow
The three inner-city green spaces – Amtsgarten, Alter Friedhof and Jeetzelufer – form a continuous sequence of open spaces along Lange Straße, allowing visitors to experience nature, water and tranquillity in the heart of Lüchow. They are connected by a continuous, barrier-free path system, enabling visitors to easily explore the different qualities of each area. Uniform furnishings, lounge and relaxation areas provide orientation and enhance the quality of the experience, while the different landscape characteristics of the three spaces convey different atmospheres. The design combines historical, social and ecological aspects, strengthens the identity of the city centre and offers places for people of all generations to meet, relax and enjoy local recreation.
The deliberate sequence of green spaces creates clear connections between the individual areas as well as an overarching urban experience. The integration of natural design elements, planting and water-related structures supports the ecological function, strengthens biodiversity and contributes to a sustainable, resilient city centre. The result is a coherent overall concept that enhances the quality of life, appeals to different user groups and positions the city centre as a vibrant urban space with a strong identity in the long term.
Jeetzel riverbank
The Jeetzel river flows through the centre of Lüchow from north to south and shapes the cityscape as an inner-city river. Historically used as a transport route, today the Jeetzel primarily serves functions in flood protection, urban structure and ecological concerns. The inner-city banks are currently heavily regulated, with only a few natural recreation areas available, and the river remains largely inaccessible to citizens.
The aim of the redesign is to integrate the Jeetzel more closely into city life, strengthen its ecological potential and create new opportunities for recreation and experiences. Taking into account the urban conditions and flood protection, a concept was developed that combines natural design with recreational opportunities.
Seating steps have been integrated into the embankment at several points along the riverbank, and floating wooden decks have been installed on the water in some places, allowing visitors to experience the river up close. In the northern area, a landing stage for canoes and similar uses is also being built, supplemented by safe access from the road ‘Am Deich’. The southern recreation area, on the side of the retirement home, has been designed to be barrier-free, so that people of all ages can reach and enjoy the water via a ramp integrated into the embankment.
The sequence of recreational areas blends harmoniously into the urban structure: sometimes urban, sometimes close to nature, creating a varied experience. In addition, new benches and so-called ‘chill sofas’ have been installed along the existing paths, inviting visitors to take short breaks and linger on the banks. In order not to compromise flood protection on the dyke, it was kept free of trees and permanently installed fixtures. Instead, new trees were planted along the paths on the side facing away from the water, providing shade on the paths and seating areas and thus further enhancing the recreational facilities.
The embankments were planted with vegetation typical of the location in many places. Plant communities typical of rivers in the water and on the banks contribute to ecological diversity, promote biodiversity and support the natural purification of the water. Flowering meadows along the shore zones provide additional habitat for insects and other small animals. The meadows are mowed twice a year to ensure that the embankments are flood-proof.
The result is a Jeetzel riverbank that enhances the town, offers residents new recreational opportunities and spaces for exercise, and at the same time strengthens ecological functions. The redesign combines urban life, nature and water experiences, thus contributing significantly to the enhancement of Lüchow’s town centre.
Amtsgarten park
The listed Amtsgarten forms an important green space in the south-west of Lüchow. As a historic park with a rural character, it is shaped by the course of the Drawehner Jeetzel, which flows through the grounds in gentle curves and remains a defining feature of the area.
The aim of the redesign is to enhance the existing qualities of the Amtsgarten, improve its amenity value and make the connection to the water more tangible. Taking into account the requirements of monument preservation, a careful, nature-oriented upgrade was carried out that respects existing structures while creating new offerings for different user groups.
The path layout has been supplemented and improved to provide clear orientation and better access without detracting from the landscape character. Along the Drawehner Jeetzel, sections of the riverbank have been opened up to create an accessible floodplain area. Typical river vegetation and water-purifying plants strengthen the ecological function and promote biodiversity. Seating steps and wooden platforms invite visitors to linger by the water and create places where the water can be experienced with all the senses.
The pergola was renovated and the historic relic preserved as an identity-defining element. A newly added, weather-protected pavilion complements the offering and provides a sheltered place to relax. A sound trail and newly created wildflower areas add further layers of experience, making the Amtsgarten a place of discovery.
The subtle, natural design and the uniform, understated use of materials and forms create a harmonious overall picture that preserves the historic character. The Amtsgarten thus becomes a local recreation park that combines nature, history and green spaces – a green experience in the middle of the city that sustainably enhances the ecological and atmospheric quality of the location.
Hamburg-Nord district office building development | Hamburg-Eppendorf
3rd prize | Hamburg-Nord district office building development
Hamburg-Eppendorf
In collaboration with gmp Architekten
Urban development and monument preservation
The aim of this competition entry is to highlight and strengthen the potential of the listed building complex ‘Bezirksamt Hamburg-Nord’ (Hamburg-Nord District Office). The administrative building will be transformed into a liveable and sustainable neighbourhood: the Seitz Quarter will be created.
The listed buildings B-E, designed by architect Paul Seitz, will be preserved in their structural substance and carefully supplemented by three new buildings: a new tower as the highest point on the main road emphasises the start of Eppendorf with its long-distance effect. It will be located directly behind building section B1, replacing building section A, and will be connected to it by a covered hall, creating a large, contiguous inner courtyard to the east.
An extension to the former library rounds off the building block along the busy Lenhartzstraße. The street edge of the new building is set back slightly so that building E retains its presence. An extension to building C1 connects the quarter with the adjacent Marie-Jonas-Platz as a mediating building block. The original design idea is continued here, with the new building stepping down in height compared to the existing structure and creating a new frontage. In this way, all the new buildings blend harmoniously into the existing structure and the adjacent development, developing it further in a contemporary manner.
The existing buildings will be renovated in consultation with the monument protection authority and converted for new use in the interior. The façades will retain their protected appearance and will only be supplemented with balconies in the courtyard areas (buildings C and D). This will create an inner, private and landscaped courtyard as an oasis and identity-forming space for the residents of the Seitz Quarter, in contrast to the more public neighbourhood square on Marie-Jonas-Platz and the more urban square on Magistrale.
Development and use
The new buildings will enable an appropriate density of use and, as a result, greater economic efficiency for the project. Retail space is primarily located on the ground floor on the north side. Office space is located on the lower floors on the east side and at the highest point. The upper floors will contain apartments of various sizes, ranging from compact one-room apartments in the existing building to spacious townhouses in section D and maisonette apartments in section C.
Open space design
The transformation of the administrative building into a neighbourhood with commercial, office and residential units also changes the requirements for open space. Unused and inaccessible green spaces, purely functional entrance areas and parking spaces are making way for neighbourhood life and play areas. The inner courtyard is open to the public, but is primarily reserved for residents. New plantings in free, curved shapes complement the existing tree population, which is worthy of protection. The courtyard is accessed directly from the surrounding buildings. A private passageway connects the open spaces to each other.
Mobility concept
The demand for car parking spaces is determined based on empirical values, taking into account location-specific reduction factors. Residents and guests have access to two large bicycle garages, supplemented by decentralised parking areas in the outdoor areas. A mobility hub and two bicycle repair shops complete the mobility concept.
Westerwischstrom neighbourhood | Cuxhaven
3rd Prize | Westerwischstrom neighbourhood
Cuxhaven
In collaboration with Thomas Schüler Architekten und Stadtplaner
Urban development concept
Due to its existing island location, the new neighbourhood needs a neighbourly structure in order to create an identity here in the future. A village green will be created as a central open space element, forming a communal interior area as a ‘green heart’ to which all building plots are adjacent and from which they derive their addresses.
The village green connects with the landscape areas, in particular the southern green corridor and the Süderwischschule school, thus creating a coherent open space framework. The individual building plots, which give the green centre its spatial edges, arise naturally from these path axes.
The biotope area of the reed strip is preserved and given a sufficient buffer strip. It becomes the new open space theme of the green centre and strengthens the function of a retention meadow.
Quarter centre
Directly opposite Theodor-Heuss-Allee, a centrally located neighbourhood square is being created as a representative gateway to the new quarter. It opens up like a window onto the retention meadow and forms a central hub here. As an urban square, it allows for a wide range of uses and integrates central play and activity areas. Large benches and seating steps invite visitors to linger and create a pleasant atmosphere with a view across the Retentionsanger.
The structural centrepiece is the daycare centre, which, together with a bakery or a small village shop in the adjacent neighbourhood house, will enliven the square. The upper floors could be used for special types of housing, such as multi-generational housing or senior living.
The forecourt along the district road is integrated into the new sequence of squares as an open space and forms the entrance to the new neighbourhood. This is where the public transport stop and the neighbourhood car park are located, which also serves as a structural noise barrier.
Garden courtyards at the Green Centre
The modular concept of garden courtyards forms small neighbourhoods that can be developed with different types of buildings for single-family homes and multi-family homes with a focus on family-friendly and communal living. They are grouped around a garden courtyard with play and communication areas, which strengthens neighbourly coexistence. The building density is highest at the green centre and becomes less dense towards the edges.
The buildings along the green centre are intended for building groups that form a striking park edge with varied architecture through individual development. The ground-floor communal uses and small offices for W+A have easily findable addresses and enliven the public space.
Traffic-free residential environment
The neighbourhood car park is located directly in the access area, providing parking spaces for the western apartment building. The base houses a bicycle parking facility and an energy centre, which supplies the neighbourhood with energy independently as a combined heat and power plant or large heat pump.
The parking spaces for the garden courtyards are located directly at the access areas, keeping the interior areas car-free and creating neighbourhoods with a high quality of life. Understated and well-placed furniture creates a pleasant atmosphere in the public spaces as places for meeting and communication.
Directly on the neighbourhood square is a mobility station that accommodates all functions of ‘soft mobility’ such as car sharing and e-mobility. The footpaths and cycle paths through the green spaces reinforce the permeable internal access concept and promote individual walking and cycling.
Green centre as a retention area
The green centre serves as a large retention area. It is designed to be close to nature and acts as a retention space for rainwater. With its recreational qualities, play facilities and ecological function as a rainwater retention area, it contributes to improving the quality of the neighbourhood and enhancing its identity.
A flat lawn depression parallel to the reed bed strip acts as a central retention area, collecting rainwater from the neighbouring residential courtyards and draining it into the rainwater retention areas to the north and south. The interaction between the reed bed and the extension with intermittently wet retention areas is carefully coordinated with nature conservation requirements in terms of modelling and rainwater supply.
Rainwater and climate impact adaptation concept
The rainwater management concept follows the principles of minimising surface sealing and retaining rainwater runoff at its source so that a large proportion of the water no longer needs to be drained away through evaporation. First, the rainwater from the flat roofs on the construction sites is retained in retention roofs with minimal runoff and an evaporation rate of up to 75%, The rainwater from the gabled roofs and courtyard areas is collected in retention cisterns or led via open seepage ditches and seepage channels close to the surface into the temporarily dammed, lowered areas of the residential courtyards and the lawns and wet meadow hollows along the paths.
The water from the cisterns can be used for grey water utilisation in the buildings and for watering the garden courtyards. Proportional roof greening can contribute to the purification of rainwater and reduce the amount of water accumulating on private areas. The water flows through the garden areas to the central neighbourhood square or directly into the adjacent hollows. Here, the water is retained and discharged in a controlled manner into the adjacent green joints with their associated waterways. The green joints also ensure emergency waterways during heavy rainfall, so that rainwater can be discharged without causing damage.
Particular emphasis is placed on extensive tree planting with climate-resilient species that provide shade and evaporative cooling. In street spaces and squares, they are supplied with water via lowered planting strips and, to a lesser extent, via tree trenches, thus supporting the sponge city concept of the entire neighbourhood. The sowing of species-rich meadows, in combination with bird protection hedges, creates valuable habitats for insects and other animals. In this way, rainwater and climate change adaptation are made visible and tangible as ecological qualities, contributing to the positive image of the neighbourhood.
Wasserkuppe Arrival & Information Centre | Gersfeld (Rhön)
3rd Prize | Wasserkuppe Arrival & Information Centre
Gersfeld (Rhön)
In collaboration with Sturm und Wartzeck
Basalt as a leitmotif
Basalt can be found everywhere in the Rhön in a wide variety of forms. Whether it stands on the rock face as spectacular vertical layers, like a stone forest among the trees, intertwines horizontally with the surrounding meadows at Pferdskopf, or illustrates the sculptural power of nature as filigree hexagonal columns (Gangolfsberg). Basalt always appears as a defining element of the landscape, entering into dialogue with its surroundings through its differentiated layers. This sculptural quality, which defines a place without dominating it, served as the leitmotif for our design.
Urban planning and open space design
The building is a multi-layered, elongated structure situated between the heterogeneous existing buildings on the site and the open airfield. The shifting layers of the building allow it to respond organically to the different requirements of its surroundings. In the northeast, the differentiated edge of the building opposite the wing building defines a spacious, freely usable square that ties the entire area together as a new centre. Here, the beams are lower to give the square a scaled and inviting setting. The main entrance to the new information centre forms the end of the square, which is visible from afar. This is at the same level as the main entrance to the gliding museum, which makes it easier to find your way around the site and opens up spatial synergies between the institutions. In the north-west, the recess of the last building blocks creates an outdoor space that is clearly separated from public use, with parking spaces for employees and access for the mountain rescue service.
To the south, the building faces the airfield with its open vistas along its entire length. The tallest parts of the building, with viewing and star terraces, create a highly recognisable silhouette – the new gateway to the Wasserkuppe. In the restaurant and Regio Shop area, outdoor terraces on three sides offer a view of the airfield and the Rhön mountains, protected from wind and weather.
Open space
The nearby basalt formations are interpreted for the building construction, with the edges and projections of the façade giving the building a character that blends naturally into the landscape. The plot has a height difference of several metres, which is also reflected in the building construction with its varying ground floor heights. This principle is continued in the open space, with individual areas of the ground floor having access to terraced levels in front, which also follow the height differences and mediate between the building and the open terrain. The offsets of the terrace segments are staged with benches or steps, thus becoming usable elements. To the south, there is a green strip that also integrates the edge of the gliding field across the road. The road is designed with lawn liners, giving it the character of a private road that is only used by glider pilots. The planting here is dense, but does not obstruct the wide view. Trees are placed sparingly here. In the north, the planting is somewhat more lush and forms the framework for the open event area between the new building and the competence centre. The materials and colours in the open space are based on the building construction – basalt and wood, complemented by yellow-gold accents, create a unity between the building and the terrace base.
Replacement building for GGS - Strand Europaschule Timmendorfer Strand | Timmendorf
A 3rd Prize | Replacement building for GGS – Strand Europaschule Timmendorfer Strand
Timmendorf
In collaboration with Baufrösche Architekten und Stadtplaner
Guiding principle
The new GGS Strand Europaschule brings together three previously separate school and building sections in a shared architectural and educational concept. The result is a lively place of learning and encounter that combines educational diversity, architectural clarity, and spatial flexibility. The aim is to create a place that harmonizes learning, community, and sustainability and visibly embodies the European idea of diversity.
Architecture
The new building is a compact, three-storey structure that blends harmoniously into its urban surroundings thanks to its clear layout. The three-part façade structure creates a sense of scale and fits naturally into its surroundings. The chosen positioning of the building creates a spacious, contiguous open area that can be used in a variety of ways as a school playground and event space.
The centrally located main entrance is accessed via a spacious forecourt from the nearby public transport stop. In addition, the primary school has its own entrance, which makes everyday school life easier for younger children in particular and at the same time eases the flow of pupils at peak times.
Inside, the building opens up to a central break hall with a canteen, which forms the communicative heart of the school. Large skylights with controllable dimming provide pleasant daylight, while flexible stage and room concepts allow for a wide variety of uses – from everyday encounters to school or cultural events. A surrounding gallery on the upper floors expands the possibilities for use and encourages interaction between the different year groups. The music room and library are directly connected to the break forum. The canteen opens generously onto the schoolyard and offers sheltered seating areas with its covered outdoor area.
The internal organisation follows modern educational approaches. Cluster structures with open learning zones promote communication, flexibility and independent learning. Classrooms and differentiation rooms are transparently connected to the open learning areas and naturally lit via additional inner courtyards. Short distances, clear floor plans and good orientation characterise the concept. The primary school has its own two-storey area with direct access to the upper floor. Two schoolyards of different sizes – a large one for everyone and a small one for the primary school – create age-appropriate spaces for physical activity. A central lift ensures barrier-free access to all levels.
Facade
The facade combines warm, natural materials with innovative, sustainable elements. Wooden cladding meets colourful, hexagonal façade tiles made from recycled plastic – so-called Pretty Plastic Tiles. These are made from 100% upcycled PVC, obtained from old window frames, rain gutters and downpipes. The colourful design symbolises the diversity of Europe and the openness of the school community. The material won the Green Product Award in 2021 and combines aesthetics, sustainability and durability.
Open space concept
The urban positioning of the new building creates a sequence of three independent but interconnected open spaces. These areas form a varied learning and exercise landscape.
The entrance plaza serves as a passageway and meeting point and is flanked by bicycle parking spaces. The primary school playground is a protected play area with age-appropriate climbing facilities and an integrated green classroom. A play path leads from there along the sports field to the large schoolyard, which is designed with groups of trees, curved shapes and different recreation areas. In front of the canteen, permanently installed furniture invites visitors to linger, while a large play structure in the south becomes a meeting place for exercise and community. Quieter areas are planned for the school apiary and another green classroom.
Water management and biodiversity
The open spaces follow an ecologically sustainable approach. Extensive green roofs, water-permeable surfaces and a rainwater recycling system contribute to the resilience of the area. Rainwater is retained on site, seeps away or is collected in cisterns for domestic use. The planting promotes biodiversity with species-rich, site-appropriate plant communities and creates valuable habitats.
Bicycle and car parking
The covered bicycle parking facility with a green roof is located to the west of the building. Car parking spaces are located in the underground car park, while above ground there are only parking spaces for people with disabilities.
Former Telecommunications Office | Heusenstamm
1st Prize | Former Communications Office
Heusenstamm
In collaboration with Thomas Schüler Architekten und Stadtplaner
Urban development concept
The urban development concept builds on the adjacent urban fabric and forms an independent urban building block that mediates between the northern residential areas and the southern commercial area.
As an urban-style neighbourhood, new forms of living are emerging here that combine living and working and create a new type of sustainable urban neighbourhood for Heusenstamm on individual plots. The extensive greening of public spaces creates an all-round open-space interconnection and a green stepping stone to the adjacent landscape areas.
Open space backbone and neighbourhood structure
The new neighbourhood will be accessed via a central open space backbone, which the individual building plots will be based on and from which they will receive their addresses. This open space, as an ‘urban green space’, forms an attractive inner green corridor and connects all areas of the neighbourhood, promoting identification and community within the new urban neighbourhood.
This creates a high quality of living throughout the entire interior area with communal spaces for playing, meeting and spending time. Recesses and widenings create different spatial situations and give rise to an exciting internal structure.
The ‘green common’ functions as a communicative communal open space with play and recreation areas for all generations.
Partially shaded by a mixed canopy of climate-resilient tree species, the green space integrates meeting places, outdoor fitness facilities and play areas. A subtle relief with hollows absorbs some of the surface and roof water and, in addition to the changing image of dry and temporarily wet areas, creates a mosaic of different location factors that promise a highly diverse species composition.
Green joints divide the new residential quarter into clearly legible individual building plots and provide clear orientation and address formation. At the same time, they make the quarter permeable, enable a variety of crossings and ensure connection to the existing cycle and footpath networks.
Development concept
The concept envisages building plots with open courtyard structures that can be developed in sections as independent neighbourhood areas. They form a robust urban framework for a mixed-use urban neighbourhood, with a coexistence of residential, working and commercial uses. Flexible development for multi-storey residential buildings, townhouses or houses-within-houses with different living and working models will be created on various individual plots.
The building plots will be developed with individual detached houses, contributing to a lively, small-scale neighbourhood image. The result will be a flexible mix of different typologies for subsidised and privately financed housing.
Small ground-floor commercial units, communal areas and living+working spaces face the ‘urban green space’ and enliven the public space. The impetus provided by the building groups is being used here to strengthen the character of the neighbourhood with its mixed working and living models.
The residential courtyards support the idea of communal living, with play areas and places for communication. As green inner courtyards, they contribute to well-being and function as green oases with a high quality of living. Green living areas, residential gardens with large trees and self-sufficient gardens on the roofs form further communal areas within the building groups.
This clear and robust framework creates the conditions for small-scale construction development with a maximum of individual freedom. A few typological specifications will create the basic structure for a new urban quarter – integrated into the urban space and flexible for new living concepts.
Central square as a calling card
At the intersection of the path axes, the neighbourhood square is created, which can serve as a hub for urban life. It forms the heart of the new neighbourhood and serves as a place of communication between the residents of the adjacent districts and the new neighbourhood. Here there are play and communication areas for all age groups and open-use areas for community events. A small fountain forms a central and invigorating element on the square.
The central neighbourhood house is being built directly on the square, symbolising the architectural centre as a solitary landmark. It will house cultural and commercial uses, co-working and innovative office space for start-ups. A gallery café enlivens the public space and acts as an urban magnet.
Adjacent to this is the neighbourhood centre with a daycare centre and a multi-generational house above it. The neighbourhood meeting place and community shop will enliven the striking corner of the northern construction site. Above these are special types of housing for senior citizens with various care services.
Climate protection and climate adaptation
All trees worth preserving will be retained and supplemented with new tree plantings. The current and future tree population can thus continue to serve as a source of fresh and cool air. The open construction method provides bioclimatic relief and improves ventilation conditions.
Within the neighbourhoods, too, generous tree planting in squares and residential streets will provide sufficient shade and thus contribute to improving the microclimate. The greening of inner courtyards, extensive façade greening and the greening of roof areas will ensure maximum cooling and evaporation effects.
Traffic and mobility
The car parking spaces are distributed across two neighbourhood garages located centrally within the individual construction phases. Access is via the adjacent road space, with traffic taking a short route to the neighbourhood garage. The entrances to the garages face the squares, creating communicative spaces. The base houses a mobility station and parking spaces for bicycles.
The central mobility hub is located at the entrance plaza, a pavilion with a bicycle repair shop and all the functions required for the concept of ‘soft mobility’, such as car-sharing spaces, rental bicycles and charging stations for electric vehicles. Intelligent mobility and sharing concepts in combination with public transport can significantly reduce moving and stationary vehicle traffic. The footpaths and cycle paths through the green spaces reinforce the permeable internal access concept and promote individual walking and cycling.
The residential environment is kept free of traffic and is only accessible to residents, refuse collection and emergency vehicles when necessary. This creates a largely traffic-free interior area with high-quality open spaces, which in turn creates a vibrant neighbourhood with a high quality of life. Understated and well-placed street furniture enhances the quality of public spaces as places for people to meet and communicate.
Rainwater concept
A differentiated, decentralised rainwater management system in three stages is proposed for drainage. In the first stage, the roof water is retained via retention roofs and a large proportion of it evaporates on the roof via green roofs, which has a significant cooling effect on the area.
The remaining and greatly reduced portion of the roof water, as well as the runoff from the very limited paved areas in the inner courtyards, is retained via open ditches and gutters and in the slightly lowered lawn depressions, where it partially seeps away. In addition, if proven to be economically viable, water from private areas can be collected in decentralised retention cisterns, retained on the property and used for grey water purposes.
Rainwater from public roads and squares is also collected in a network of small ditches and open gutters and, in a first step, fed into the slight depressions within the Green Anger and the green joints. In the event of heavy rainfall, these hollows flow into the retention area on the southern edge. Due to the long retention time of the water in the green hollows, some of the water can evaporate or seep away into the vegetation areas.
Tree trenches ensure that the collected surface water from the squares supplies the trees with water.
The topic of rainwater management is made visible and tangible as an ecological quality and adaptation to climate change, contributing to the positive image of the settlement.
Economic efficiency/recycling
The primary goal is to reuse demolition materials, e.g. as recycled concrete in a hybrid construction with timber. The buildings are constructed using recyclable materials and are energy self-sufficient. The waste-to-energy concept is also intended to contribute to a natural cycle of recyclable materials in which no waste is generated.
The planning is based on recurring dimensions and takes into account uniform standards in all areas. This creates the conditions for an element-based construction method with a high degree of prefabrication, which is particularly useful in the field of timber construction. The aim is to save as much energy as possible with as few technical measures as possible, to conserve resources and to make maximum use of them.
