Bollhalder Walser Architektur : Thurgauerstrasse School Complex - best architects 27

Bollhalder Walser Architektur

Thurgauerstrasse School Complex

best architects 27

education buildings

Place

Zurich, Switzerland

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.