Kollektiv Marudo Architekten
New school complex Brühl, Solothurn
best architects 24 in gold
education buildings
Place
Solothurn, Switzerland
Studio
Photos
Rasmus Norlander
Description
The school complex is located on the periphery of
Solothurn’s city centre in the Weststadt district and, together with the sports
facility and the football stadium, forms a distinctive location within the
homogeneous residential neighbourhood structure. The existing school complex
consisted of a large, densely landscaped area and a two-storey school building
from the 1990s – typologically with a centrally located gymnasium, an access
layer, all-round classrooms and several entrances and approaches. The new
school building is an extension that takes up the idea of the «pavilion» building type. As a
filigree two-storey structure with exterior staircases, it mediates directly
between the interior and exterior spaces – strengthened by an all-round arcade.
This covered outdoor space is an access, meeting and recreation area, all at the
same time. The sweeping staircases have their entrance and exit at the same
point and directly connect the entrances to the building. The basic
architectural principle is based on the need for spatial flexibility. The
static framework is a modular concrete building. A precise grid divides and
connects the school rooms. A lightweight wooden structure, which on the outside
forms part of the façade and on the interior takes the form of space-creating
cabinet furniture and doors, fills and connects the visible concrete skeleton.
The raw school building forms the basis for flexible appropriation by the
future users.