Mansarde 3 Architekten

Description

To accommodate the increasing number of pupils and the limited space available at the Rudolf Steiner School in Bern, the institution decided to construct a new building for the elementary grades on the site. This building will house two kindergartens, a playgroup and a daycare programme. Two separate structures are united under a single roof. To maintain the scale of the existing one- to two-storey school buildings, the new two-classroom kindergarten and the daycare programme with the playgroup are organised into two distinct volumes. They share a covered walkway in front, which serves as a space for playing, crafting and socialising. The new building is a sophisticated, rigorously designed timber structure that also impresses with its spatial qualities. The simple, additive wooden façade pilasters significantly contribute to the rhythm and character of the new building. The Swedish-red wood stain references the sun-tanned red of the existing buildings and lends the new addition a warm and inviting atmosphere. The large hipped roof establishes a connection to the surrounding area and formally and architecturally echoes the existing pavilion buildings, which display carefully considered spatial compositions and a natural simplicity in their construction. The entire school complex has a wonderfully idyllic atmosphere, which is further enhanced by the new building and the landscaping.