Weyell Zipse Architekten

Description

The heart of the Guggach Primary School in Zurich is its foyer – an intermediate climate zone that adapts to the changing seasons. Open in summer and enclosed in winter, its climate is regulated through manually operated sliding doors. The foyer extends into the neighbourhood park, resembling a grand stage. Here, children begin their week by singing together on Monday mornings, learn in open-air classrooms, and enjoy their breaks outdoors. Using a standard greenhouse construction, the roof can be opened, while integrated sunshades provide shade as needed. Combined with air vents and the energy from the sun, this enables users to actively influence the indoor climate. The atmosphere and comfort of the space shift in response to the environment, blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. The three-story atrium of the foyer offers spaces for possibilities that can be freely reimagined and adapted over time. The atrium was conceived as a simple, cost-effective structure outside the insulated perimeter. Since it was not part of the original brief, no budget was allocated for this space, necessitating a rational and functional design approach for the rest of the building. Prefabricated columns, beams and ceilings are stabilised by wind bracing on the façade. The structural skeleton rests atop three underground floors, including a double sports hall. A double-height spectator area creates a sectional configuration that allows natural light to reach the underground sports hall.