
Bollhalder Walser Architektur
Thurgauerstrasse School Complex
best architects 27
education buildings
Place
Zurich, Switzerland
Studio
Photos
Lukas Murer
Description
The L-shaped, 90-metre-long
school building forms part of a sequence of large-scale structures along
Thurgauerstrasse. Towards the future neighbourhood park, the volume bends and
creates a clear park façade. To the west, facing a fine-grained single-family
housing area, an elongated rectangular playground is located. The entrance on
Thurgauerstrasse is marked by a projecting volume and leads via a generous
staircase to an internal «boulevard» at playground level. From here,
there is access to the horizontal circulation zone, where three staircases lead
to the upper floors. Six learning clusters are arranged there, each comprising
three classrooms, two group rooms and one support space. The playground level houses
the kindergarten, cafeteria and multi-purpose room. In the basement are sports
facilities, a kitchen and music rooms, while the park-facing wing, with
separate access, accommodates workshops, therapy rooms and staff areas. The
building is defined by a regular ribbon façade. Spandrel panels of corrugated
polycarbonate with integrated photovoltaic modules create a shifting appearance
depending on light and time of day. Trellis structures along the closed end
façades allow dense greening. The large, visible roof is extensively
landscaped, providing ecological and spatial value, while photovoltaic and PVT
systems are integrated into the façade and roof edge.
