protestant secondary school vienna

urban design concept
the site for the future evangelical secondary school donaustadt is located in an urban area characterized by a noticeably heterogeneous building fabric. the future development of neighboring plots is currently uncertain. a direct reference of the new school to the built environment seems difficult due to the lack of prominent exterior positions. the temporary school containers, which must be taken into account during construction, define the future outdoor space and sports field at the southern end of the site. the easement agreement with the western part of the plot requires a considerable setback from this boundary. given these conditions and the intention to create the largest possible contiguous green space on the site, the school building is compactly positioned along the eastern plot boundary, with private noise-protected courtyards for the clusters, and a generous park and school garden along the hall.

organization
the building’s organization allows zoning of public and private areas with a semi-public zone in between. public areas are located on the ground floor. a sequence of cultural science lab, lounge areas, dining hall, and gym forms an open spatial continuum flanking the science experiment rooms and artistic workshops. a clear, flexible building structure contains the private zones of the clusters on the two eastern upper floors, embedded and flanked by the atrium connecting all floors. here, upper-level platforms are offered that can be used as part of the clusters or as cross-cluster spaces.

spatial concept

clusters
clusters are organized within a free neutral area. the group rooms adjoin the shared common space. mobile shelving, furniture, and partitions allow the creation of different spaces adapted to current and individual needs. the common space between group rooms extends to the adjacent outdoor classrooms. the cluster configuration provides opportunities for open spatial volumes as well as for specific zonings into enclosed learning areas and retreat niches within the classrooms and communal space. access to the outdoor area is possible for each cluster via connecting pergolas. communication between clusters is supported by both circulation bridges and suspended platforms in the flanking school hall. accompanying the cluster buildings, the areas for cultural sciences, music, dining hall, etc., are positioned freely, extending the hall’s spatial volume.

cultural sciences
prominently located at the entrance, this auditorium-designed space signals transparency and serves as an outward invitation. the library functions as a work and presentation zone, a cultural science forum open for presentations or events. students and teachers can read and work at individual desks, group tables, or relaxed positions on stepped seating. the adjacent reading garden is integrated into the landscape, shaded by trees, with the contemplative acoustic backdrop of the preceding biotope.

workshops
artistic workshops are atelier-style with large roof glazing on the ground floor. all three areas can use the adjacent covered outdoor space as an outdoor workspace. completed works are displayed in the hall.

laboratory
the science area is located on the ground floor, analogous to the workshops, with generous skylights and a directly connected outdoor experimental area.

multipurpose room, ceremonial hall, atrium
each school area connects to the backbone of the school, the three-story connecting and circulation hall. flowing sequences of spaces expand this zone into a multifunctional, three-dimensional marketplace. the gym volume provides space for use as an auditorium, ceremonial hall, lecture hall, or ball hall, including school graduation events. the gymnasiums are embedded into the landscape. in mild weather, the doors open outward to the green auditorium.

dining hall
monofunctionality cannot satisfy either economic or spatial requirements. the dining zone, café, hall, and gym together provide a flexible, versatile spatial volume.

music
the cultural sciences and music areas form the interface between school and public space. the musical area floats above the entrance and covers the forecourt of the evangelical secondary school donaustadt.

green space
the entrance plaza at maculangasse is generously designed with uniform paving and seating. bicycle parking emphasizes the importance of this transport mode. the flat site is topographically articulated by embedding the building. the outdoor reading area creates an acoustic niche with water flowing over the site edge from the biotope, shaded by delicate deciduous trees like amber and ginkgo. the gym’s outdoor forum invites summer events. reclining mounds, seating hills, and southern seating ramps continue the three-dimensional design of the outdoor space. along the western edge of the plot, tall trees are planted, which currently filter the waagramerstraße and will later filter the neighboring development. biotopes, vegetable, and fruit gardens are maintained by the students. recurring furniture elements are broad, variably sized long benches serving multiple functions: seating, learning, working, and as sports/movement elements in parcours. the free interpretation of furniture encourages appropriation and creative interaction with the outdoor space. overall, the school park provides a wide range of spatial situations, allowing different people and groups to use various areas at different times, which also supports gender mainstreaming. for this reason, no continuous functional assignment is applied in the outdoor areas.