Gymnasium Schulstraße in Berlin

The school within the school

Surrounded by numerous green spaces and a large stock of native trees, the campus on Schulstrasse blends into the existing environment and extends the existing greenery. Green spaces in the form of various gardens are planned, supplemented by green roofs and terraces as well as an orchard. The result is a school campus that combines nature and education.

The project is based on the concept of a “school within a school”, whereby the rooms of the six individual units are divided into independent areas. These are arranged around a relationship space with multiple entrances for natural light and cross ventilation, designed in direct connection with all surrounding classrooms.

The school campus is designed as a coherent structure consisting of three orthogonal building sections and a centrally located inner courtyard. Due to its shape, the building divides the surrounding outdoor space into different areas. A differentiated design of these open spaces thus creates a variety of recreational situations and possible uses.

On the first floor there is a dining room, multi-purpose room, music rooms, art workshops and a library. All of this surrounds a central courtyard, which functions as the center and meeting place of the new school complex. The upper floors are dedicated to the teaching groups: The side wings house rooms for the various school subjects, while the common classrooms and administration rooms are located in the middle section.

The external appearance of the school campus is characterized by a green roof and an open façade. A grid is created in which different materials and textures are harmonized. Slim white bricks are used, combined with wooden surfaces. In addition, large windows without visible lintels are used, which allow a view of the outside even when seated due to the low sill height. Inside, the appearance is primarily characterized by the visible construction. Concrete columns and beams as well as the secondary beams and ceiling slab made of wood all remain recognizable and are complemented by the wooden surfaces of the interior walls. The school building is accessed vertically via two central staircases, which are connected by a horizontal communication space that opens onto the inner courtyard.