kindergarten and elementary school scheffau

urban planning concept
the site for the new educational center in scheffau am tennengebirge is defined by its location between two existing houses and a later residential development to the northeast. the site is largely flat, with a steep, partially rocky slope at the northwest edge. to create a generous schoolyard, construction along the access road has been omitted. the new building structure is situated along the northwest boundary, minimizing impact on the neighboring houses.

architectural concept
the idea that the kindergarten spaces should ideally be on the entrance level with direct access to outdoor areas, along with the consideration of not placing a multi-story building opposite the two existing houses, led to the fundamental decision to develop a low-rise building primarily consisting of two levels: one for the youngest children and one for the elementary school. the third level, housing the gym area and service rooms, is embedded into the terrain below the entrance level. the two levels for kindergarten and elementary school are connected via a generous seating arena, forming a two-story aula. walkable roof surfaces at the elementary school level maximize outdoor areas, providing the kindergarten with a garden of approximately 1,350 m², the elementary school with terrace areas of around 900 m², plus the schoolyard with covered entrances, outdoor dining areas, and free spaces for after-school care and the library totaling approximately 620 m², as well as a sunken play and gym area of 80 m². the total outdoor area exceeds 3,000 m², nearly doubling the outdoor space compared to the feasibility stage. the two-story aula, located along the long side of the sunken gym, forms the heart of the building, with a seating arena and tiered stands. this two-story foyer connects the level for the youngest children with the elementary school level. the indoor campus provides space for all types of events and serves as a gathering place for all children. it encourages sitting and observing, functions as a recreation, play, and learning area, and facilitates clear orientation within the building. the spatial concept supports the school’s ethos: openness, clarity, legibility, connectivity, generosity, daylight-filled spaces, and smooth transitions between interior and exterior. the various spatial configurations offer a wide range of uses for different groups and individuals. spaces are organized to be clear and open. the two-story reduction and short distances between kindergarten and elementary school, along with the shared two-story aula, create synergies through shared areas. external athletes can access the sports area directly from the schoolyard via stairs and lifts without entering the school area.

elementary school
elementary school children enter through the main entrance and wind lobby to reach the central cloakroom and quickly access the two-story aula and the upper-level area via the reading stairs. the generous forecourt to the classrooms and group rooms functions as an open learning zone, connecting all elementary school areas. classrooms also receive skylight daylighting through shed roofs, providing light from two sides. all teaching rooms have direct exits to adjacent covered outdoor areas. the elementary school outdoor area on level e1 totals 495 m². seating benches are arranged along the glass façades, both inside and outside, which can be connected via sliding window elements to form large lounging and play areas. the transition between indoor and outdoor spaces is fluid. all elementary school rooms have direct access to balconies or large terraces, with a stairway in the northwest and a seating arena in the southwest leading to the ground-level area, forming an outdoor arena. the elementary school cloakroom is designed as a central cloakroom. the room size deviates from the m² recommendations for cloakrooms by öiss, as previously tested in reference buildings such as the schulzentrum feldkirchen by faschfuchsarchitekten. specially designed cloakroom furniture encourages tidiness in the cloakroom area.

kindergarten
all kindergarten group rooms are oriented to the southeast, with two group rooms accessed via a shared cloakroom. the movement room expands into a generous internal circulation area, also serving as additional play space. all group rooms have direct exits to adjacent covered outdoor areas. seating benches along the glass façades, both inside and outside, can be connected via sliding window elements to create large lounging and play areas. the transition between indoor and outdoor spaces is fluid. large shed roofs above the group rooms increase spatial volume and provide additional daylight from the northwest side. in the dining area of the aula, the kindergarten dining space and kitchen can be separated from the school by glass sliding elements.

outdoor spaces
for the health of the students, frequent transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces are important. outdoor teaching can take place immediately adjacent to classrooms and learning landscapes. a key element of the spatial concept is extending learning areas to directly connected outdoor areas such as terraces, seating steps, open classrooms, and balconies. during warm months, the aula, library, dining area, after-school care, and creative rooms can open to covered outdoor areas, enabling dining, relaxation, and outdoor studio work.

structural concept
to allow for high interior flexibility, load-bearing wall panels are used only as required for horizontal building stabilization. the primary structural elements are reinforced concrete columns and slabs, largely arranged in a highly efficient grid.

material concept
material selection emphasizes ecological impact and co₂ emissions from production, transport, and deconstruction. all classrooms have wooden floors to enhance the surface as sitting or play areas. other rooms receive finishes according to functional requirements. ventilated façades are executed with wooden cladding, and windows are wood-aluminum constructions. transparent areas have effective external sun shading. overhanging roofs or balconies provide shading from high-angle sunlight, protect façades from weathering and dirt, and facilitate cleaning and maintenance. trees in front of the façades contribute additional shading.

fire safety and escape route concept
the entire load-bearing structure is constructed in reinforced concrete. the terraced building allows each floor to access terraces or the adjacent terrain as escape routes. from any point in the building, outdoor access is reachable within a 40 m walking distance, with escape possible in at least two directions. from the elementary school terraces, two stairways provide access to ground-level terrain and public areas. for these reasons, no dedicated escape stairwell is necessary.

energy concept
the energy strategy relies on passive optimization, including the omission of suspended ceilings to utilize the thermal mass of reinforced concrete slabs and walls. acoustic elements are designed to activate these storage masses. at night, when outdoor temperatures allow, skylights can automatically open to enable cross-ventilation. this expels warm indoor air and brings in cooler outside air. overnight ventilation cools the thermal mass, preconditioning the rooms for the next day. balconies, roof overhangs, and projecting building elements provide glare-free lighting, prevent summer overheating, and enable sheltered ventilation. continuous external sun-shading devices aid temperature regulation. green roofs with thick humus layers absorb and delay energy input, contributing to thermal stabilization. evaporating soil moisture produces a cooling effect through the release of latent heat.