MET Architects

Description

The Gellert school complex in Basel consists of a heterogeneous ensemble of buildings from the 1950s. The kindergarten is composed of three pentagonal main rooms with tent roofs, which are connected by flat, single-storey auxiliary rooms. While the building structure was largely in good condition, the space and layout, building services and building envelope no longer met today’s requirements. MET Architects won the planning competition for the entire complex with their precise conversion and extension concept. The required addition was made within the existing building volume, by converting the covered areas on the garden side into interior spaces. Non-load-bearing walls in the former cloakrooms were removed, creating group rooms that can be used flexibly thanks to new door connections. In front of the new glazed entrance façades with vertical wooden slats, cantilevered canopies provide space for arrival, play and recreation. The garden was redesigned in line with the original idea and the flat roofs were greened. A design concept inspired by the colour scheme of the 1950s reinforces the coherence of the school complex. Wherever possible, the existing furnishings were retained, refreshed and reused. Warm colours and tactile surfaces create a contemporary, child-friendly atmosphere in the historic building.