Renovation and extension of the primary school Tarrenz

Local planning idea
The integration of the extended school into the immediate surroundings is defined by the arrival, the forecourt area and the interweaving of the buildings with the outside space. Given the existing conglomerate of different buildings and facilities at this location, a clearly recognisable main entrance to the school is particularly important. The existing club rooms in the basement provide us with the opportunity for a central, raised forecourt that can be accessed from both sides in a spacious and accessible way. The new main entrance is defined by a structure projecting into this forecourt. The entrance is located at the interface between the new and old buildings.

Architecture
All the buildings on the site have different identities, making each one recognisable in its own right and forming an ensemble of different construction periods and public uses. The extension offers a self-confident but appropriately scaled building sculpture that fits into all directions and provides different appearances and utilisation options from different sides. It defines a clear and calm edge to the street, while the building opens up to the schoolyard garden at different levels, becoming more playful and thus intertwining with the green space and open areas that can be used in different ways. The building encompasses a diverse outdoor space and connects the learning landscapes and the assembly hall with the garden in a varied way. The house and garden become a shared living space.
The new building consists of a small reinforced concrete structure and a larger timber structure. The reinforced concrete structure is directly attached to the existing building and is mainly used for access. On the upper floor, two cantilevered wall discs form a column-free roof over the main entrance. The new timber building is designed partly with solid cross-laminated timber walls and partly with columns. The timber ceilings are planned as ribbed ceilings. The structure with columns and beams allows for window areas and large, open rooms.