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Architects: Loewer + Partner Architekten
- Year: 2015
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Photographs:Ralf Heidenreich
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Manufacturers: Wiehag
Text description provided by the architects. The Schuldorf Bergstraße, founded in 1954, is a school village which was the first cooperative comprehensive school in the Federal Republic of Germany. Today, parts of its unique site and architecture belong to class listed monuments.
The building ensembleconsists of a kindergarten, preschool, primary school, special school, secondary modern school, secondary school, high school and an international school to offer wide-ranging educational opportunities for nearly 2000 students. In 2008, the administrative district Darmstadt-Dieburg decided to realize a new sports hall with Schuldorf Bergstraße for sports clubs and educational purposes.
The concept was to interpret the idea of the school village with its brick buildings and the pine forest as an entire, characteristic site to find a design solution. Loewer + Partner Architects were able to stand up to 20 renowned architecture offices in a nationwide competition.
Excerpt from the jury’s statement:
...the architects are able to create a significant appearance with a high value of recognition. Position and orientation of the building fit to the site. The structure of the trees, impressions of light and shadow and brickwork as a material are borrowed from the environment. The building avoids closed facades and opens itself to all sides.
The new architecture creates a connection between building ensemble and publicity. Existing structures of ways, landscape and view connections were respected. Furthermore, a new entry to the complex and an increased public perception could be achieved. The entrance offers a large square, formed by an organic roof structure. The building was dug into the ground and can be accessed at grade. Athletes can enter changing rooms and gym via elevator or an outside staircase, illuminated from above.
Essential functions are located in the basement and could be developed with a cost- and energy-efficient construction. Public areas are located in the ground floor (gymnastic room, foyer, WC visitors) which appears transparent, apart from kitchens, elevators and sanitation facilities. A tall roof overhang offers low-tech solar protection, large facade surfaces are equipped with movable sunscreens. Translucent roof lights support a smooth illumination of the gym and reduce reflections and glare effects. Finally, the new construction of the sports hall has become a highly visible landmark for this area.
