School in Hamburg (2015)
„Grundschule am Lehmkuhlenweg“ in Sülldorf. HafenCity University Hamburg.

This design was proposed during a competition for an extension to the existing primary school in Sülldorf near Hamburg. The school was in need of three new class rooms, an auditorium and new office space for teachers.

Starting from careful consideration and analysis of how students and teachers approach the buildings now and in the future, from housing and villages scattered across a wider area around Sülldorf, we placed two volumes, one containing three class rooms, a library, offices and toilets, and the other housing a double-height multi-function space to serve as an auditorium, theatre and gym.

The stage can be separated and used for musical education or acting lessons. Both volumes are connected by a narrow foyer, which is mostly opened by movable partition walls to allow a crossing of all students to reach the playing area in the west and the old school yard in the east, sports facilities in the south and Lehmkuhlenweg in the north.

The efficient design excels in clear shapes, wood surfaces wherever possible and green colour, direct exterior access from all class rooms and integrated group rooms with kitchens. Wooden surfaces have calming and strengthening health effects, while green colour reduces stress hormones. Large floor-to-ceiling windows allow for enough light. Students can use the protruding windows as small additional spaces for many purposes.

Special attention was given to the offices. Since teachers play a crucial role for young children, they are positioned in a transparent room at the very centre. Soundproof glazing and flexible office furniture would still allow teachers to fully concentrate on their work, but students won’t have to queue outside and to them the teachers’ room looses its image of a mysterious space.

Team
Vitaly Nosov, Lucas Spranger.

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