KES Schule Kestenholz
In terms of urban planning, the Kestenholz Primary School is represented by the old building, which is situated along the main street as a typical representative of the symmetrically laid out village schools of the 19th century. After the extension buildings have been dismantled and the new building has been added, this beautiful situation typical of the townscape is to be retained. The project therefore forms a building volume that on the one hand respectfully complements the old building and on the other hand strengthens it in terms of urban development with an appropriately powerful stance.
The external appearance of the new building is orientated towards the compactness and height development of the old building. This and the sloping roof allow the volume to blend in well with the urban grain of the municipality of Kestenholz. An open arcade serves as a connection between the three parts of the school building, which, in terms of design and space, develops from the ground floor of the new building. This is completely glazed towards the schoolyard and can be seen as an extension of the outdoor space into the building, as an internal passageway.
Vertical access is provided by a single-flight staircase or a lift, which are placed in the passage as spatial objects. They lead to the foyers of the two upper floors, from which the classrooms and half-classrooms are accessed and which are dimensioned in such a way that other school activities such as reading, exhibiting or painting can also take place. Here too, a large panoramic window, in the soffit of which the children can sit, creates a link to the schoolyard. The classrooms, on the other hand, face the opposite side of the schoolyard to the north-east and allow for undisturbed learning. Two classrooms on each floor can be combined with a half-classroom as required. Internally, the rooms are open to each other and offer a variety of internal communication options.
