pyhra agricultural college

site placement
the site for the new student residence and the extension of classroom, practice, and recreation spaces is characterized by its scenic location in a natural landscape without any immediate neighboring buildings. northwest of the extension completed in 2010, the demolition of the existing dormitory and connecting wings will create a generously sized construction area suitable for implementing the required program.
a key consideration in the concept is that 150 students must continue to be accommodated during the construction phase. to avoid expensive temporary housing, the new dormitory is positioned so that, in the first construction stage, no demolition work is required and the existing delivery access can remain unchanged. arranged in an L-shape, the new student residence forms the outer frame for the new development, with all rooms offering equal and unobstructed views of the surrounding green landscape. within this framework, all teaching spaces are organized in a compact building volume with short connections to both the dormitory and the school. starting from the existing school, the two new floors for classrooms — at ground and basement level — are connected at the same elevation, creating a new raised entrance from the street that serves both the dormitory and the classroom extension.

spatial concept
the heart of the building is formed by a cross-axis system consisting of the entrance–reception–bridge axis leading to the dormitory, and a two-story axis with a gallery that connects the existing school, the new classrooms, and the second dormitory wing. this spatial cross ensures clear and intuitive orientation within the building and connects all areas and functions. the architectural layout supports the school’s core values:
openness, clarity, legibility, connectivity, generosity, daylight-filled friendliness, and smooth transitions between inside and outside.
varied spatial situations offer diverse opportunities for use by different groups and individuals.

classroom extension
the core of the new development is a compact building housing classrooms, practice rooms, and recreation areas. the entrance level accommodates the reception, all classrooms, central facilities, the teachers’ area, and the internal connections to the dormitory and existing school. the level below contains practice rooms, changing areas, technical facilities, and, adjacent to the service and delivery yard, all storage and utility spaces. the classrooms are arranged to function as clusters with shared open learning areas.

student residence
from the reception at the new entrance, the two wings of the L-shaped dormitory are easily accessible via the central circulation axis. two rooms — each housing two to three students — share a vestibule with two bathrooms equipped with shower, toilet, and washbasin. as an innovative concept, the design proposes rooms primarily serving as sleeping areas, while living and study spaces are located directly outside the rooms. this configuration ensures that, in a triple occupancy room, one student can sleep while others study or engage in leisure activities without disturbing one another. it also creates semi-public zones in front of the rooms that encourage social interaction — small groups can study, play, or relax together. alternatively, study and living functions can be reintegrated into the rooms themselves without changing the overall building geometry.

outdoor spaces
a key part of the spatial concept is the extension of learning and recreation areas into adjacent outdoor spaces. during warmer months, the dining hall, library, fitness and recreation rooms, music room, and study lounges can all open onto covered outdoor terraces — allowing studying, music-making, and relaxation in the open air, as well as outdoor workshops and studios.

delivery and logistics
the delivery route remains largely unchanged, following the line of teacher parking spaces. in the southwest, a spacious service yard is created for supply and waste management. an extension to the dining hall, including a teaching kitchen, is added to the southwest corner of the existing canteen. the existing dining area gains an outdoor terrace shaded by a pergola, partially weather-protected. beneath the dormitory wings, 28 covered parking spaces for staff are provided.

structural concept
to allow for maximum flexibility in interior use, load-bearing walls are employed only as necessary for the horizontal bracing of the building. the structural system consists primarily of reinforced concrete columns and slabs, arranged in an economical grid. the dormitory rooms themselves can be prefabricated as modular timber boxes.

material concept
in selecting materials, particular attention is given to ecological impact, including embodied energy, CO₂ emissions during production and transport, and end-of-life recyclability. all classrooms and dormitory rooms feature wooden floors to enhance their usability as seating or play areas. all other spaces receive appropriate surface finishes according to functional needs. the ventilated façades are clad with timber panels, while windows are designed as wood–aluminum hybrid constructions.

fire safety and escape routes
the main structural system is executed in reinforced concrete. for the classroom block: from any point in the building, an exit to the outside is reachable within 40 meters, with escape routes available in at least two directions. therefore, a separate fire staircase is not required. for the dormitory: four escape staircases ensure that all points in the building have two independent evacuation routes.

energy concept
the energy strategy is based on passive optimization of the building, including the omission of suspended ceilings to utilize the thermal mass of concrete slabs and walls. acoustic elements are designed to allow activation of these thermal masses. during favorable outdoor conditions, clerestory windows can automatically open at night to enable cross-ventilation. this process exhausts warm indoor air, replaces it with cooler outside air, and recharges the thermal mass overnight to precondition the building for the next day. transparent surfaces are equipped with effective external sunshading. overhanging roofs and balconies provide additional protection from high-angle sun, shield façades from weathering and dirt, and facilitate maintenance. trees in front of façades further contribute to shading. green roofs with deep humus layers absorb and delay heat gain, providing additional thermal stabilization. during evaporation, a cooling effect occurs through the release of latent heat.