maria grün elementary school

urban development concept
the site for the future mariagrün primary school is defined by a steep slope and a dense, very tall, and protected tree population. particularly on the downhill side, the trees form a dense small forest. the planned “mountain-side” access ring road imposes another framework condition for the design of the building volume on the site. the school’s main access is located on the uphill side near the ring road. due to the site’s slope, the entrance level develops into the first floor on the downhill side, where all home bases are “suspended in the trees.” the topography of the site is shaped by the building but remains uninterrupted; the slope flows naturally into the school’s green roof landscape.

organization
the entrance leads to the school’s backbone: a generous two-story atrium that clearly and efficiently organizes all functional units. on the ground floor, the atrium extends into a video and media room and opens to the outdoors. the gymnasium, serving also as an event space, further enlarges this communal spatial volume. slightly above the entrance level are the two clusters (room groups), which are clearly organized and easily readable. children access their educational units via the corresponding locker areas. all home bases are oriented both toward the green space and the learning islands. the two clusters for lower grade 1 and lower grade 2 are located next to each other to promote interaction between them. sliding walls allow the four educational rooms in each cluster to be opened into one large area or divided into smaller sections, accommodating different learning and care situations. this flexible spatial organization also supports collaboration among teachers.

quiet zones are protected by mobile shelving units that define room size as needed. potentially louder play and craft areas are positioned before the acoustic separation and can form a shared zone or be structured by mobile shelving. galleries in the learning islands serve as retreat areas for reading and resting. all home bases are equally oriented downhill and toward the trees, providing natural sun protection and offering an exceptional view of the treetops—both stimulating and calming. the “tree path,” which leads directly from classrooms to the protected outdoor area, encourages children to take short exploratory walks and learning excursions among the treetops. special education rooms and the gym are located on the ground floor; art, music, and physical education spaces can extend outdoors in a rain-protected area immediately adjacent to their indoor areas.

daylight design
the home bases are southeast-facing. the small forest is ventilated as needed. the trees provide natural sun protection for the learning rooms, while roof glazing on the opposite side also illuminates the rooms. natural light from two sides ensures consistently glare-free learning conditions.

outdoor space concept
the building’s orientation and internal layout allow direct allocation of usable outdoor spaces on all sides, creating a seamless extension of the indoor areas. the generous forecourt separates the building from the ring road and, together with the entrance hall/atrium, forms a forum for events, celebrations, and presentations. the gym has direct access for external users. sports and play areas are located on the gently sloped southeastern part of the site.