oxid Architektur
Sonnenberg Schoolhouse
best architects 24
education buildings
Place
Adliswil, Switzerland
Studio
Photos
René Dürr
Description
The Sonnenberg school
complex, built in 1969, was upgraded in terms of both its programme and energy
supply. The sports wing was extended by the addition of a three-storey wooden
building, the gymnasium was renovated, and the former swimming hall was
converted into a multifunctional hall. The schoolhouse was redesigned to meet
the requirements of the «Lehrplan 21» (Curriculum
21), involving dividing classrooms in half to form group rooms and creating places
for self-study. Day-care facilities were also added. The extension has been
carefully integrated into the ensemble and staggered both horizontally and
vertically. This preserves the existing sequence of break areas and the height
development and grain of the ensemble. The interior of the extension is also based
on the existing building, with wood-panelled classrooms and group rooms
arranged like windmills around a two-tone break and cloakroom area in mineral
materials. These units are lit via large red picture windows on the respective
longitudinal sides. Thanks to the split-level typology, a flowing space with
zenith light is created. Each split level communicates with two «half» neighbouring floors. Thanks to the consistent reuse of existing building elements
(civil defence shelter, swimming pool), most of the grey energy could be reused
and CO₂ emissions minimised significantly. The new building in lightweight,
renewable timber construction serves as a CO₂ reservoir and reduces greenhouse
gases by about one-third compared to a conventional building.