elementary school forach dornbirn

urban design concept
the site for the new forach primary school is defined by its distinctive acute-triangle shape, situated between karlesgraben and forachstraße. additional site features include the müllerbach with intake, overflow, and piping, as well as a required setback to karlesgraben. the building plot marks the terminus of the former industrial area, which has already been redeveloped with residential buildings.

the design strategy responds to these constraints through:
restoration of natural areas on terraced levels
replacement of felled trees in a new school woodland across the site
the building is organized in a terraced structure, starting single-storey at the narrow tip of the site and rising to four storeys along the zubringerstraße in the southeast. this creates a walkable building with generous outdoor areas on every level, maximizing usable exterior space on a compact site. forachstraße becomes a shared street between bartle-zumtobel-straße and the access to residential buildings. wooden walkways traverse the new school woodland and müllerbach to the main school plaza, which includes a covered entrance and a sloped arena for outdoor theater, discussion, and learning.

indoor campus
the entrance, auditorium, dining area, administration, specialized classrooms, and creative spaces form a connected learning landscape over two levels. this indoor campus accommodates events, encourages social interaction, and fosters learning. a large seating and reading arena connects the entrance level to the level below and continues into the adjacent natural karlesgraben landscape. the concept emphasizes: openness, clarity, orientation, connectivity, daylight, and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions. in warm months, the auditorium, dining area, and creative spaces can open to covered outdoor zones for learning, dining, and relaxation. a multi-level atrium brings daylight to the building core while connecting all floors.

core learning areas
on levels 1 and 2, three core learning areas are arranged. each learning cluster has four classrooms linked to an open “marketplace,” teacher hub, differentiation room, cloakroom, and sanitary facilities. walkable glass floors allow daylight to reach lower levels. each cluster has a dedicated entrance, supporting identification and responsibility. large doors open classrooms to marketplaces, while glass partitions allow supervision and encourage cross-grade collaboration. marketplaces have direct access to adjacent covered outdoor areas.

sports and play
the divisible sports hall, visible from the auditorium, can be combined with the auditorium for school events or used as backstage space. an external entrance enables public or community use.

landscape and outdoor spaces
frequent transitions between indoor and outdoor areas are encouraged. outdoor classrooms, playgrounds, and balconies extend the learning zones. varied outdoor spatial configurations support diverse group activities, are open and transparent, and maximize usability for all.

structural concept
to allow high internal flexibility, load-bearing walls are minimized and used only for horizontal bracing. primary structural elements are reinforced concrete columns and slabs on an efficient grid. prestressed concrete beams span the sports hall. due to high groundwater and potential landfill costs, the building is largely unbasemented, with level -1 following existing terrain at 413.80 m.

material concept
materials are selected with attention to ecological footprint, CO₂ emissions from production, transport, and deconstruction. classrooms have timber floors for seating or play; other spaces receive appropriate coatings. ventilated facades use wood cladding, windows are timber-aluminum, with effective external sun protection. projecting roofs, building parts, and trees provide additional shading.

fire protection concept
escape routes: maximum travel distance to safety does not exceed 40 m, with terraces as supplementary safe routes.
passive fire protection: open atrium from level -1 to 2 connects floors and, together with auditorium and gym, forms a shared fire section (~1750 m²), slightly above the max. 1600 m²; compensated by low fire load and enhanced smoke extraction. high-risk areas are separated.
active fire protection: networked smoke alarms enable rapid evacuation; internal staircases are separated by fire portals; adequate fire extinguishing systems planned.

energy concept
passive optimization using exposed concrete slabs and walls activates thermal mass. acoustic elements allow thermal activation. night ventilation via automatically opened skylights enables cross-ventilation and preconditioning. green roofs with deep humus layers absorb and delay heat input, providing thermal stabilization and latent cooling through evapotranspiration.

ventilation concept
classrooms and administrative spaces use controlled ventilation with heat recovery, supplying fresh air to classrooms and overflows to circulation and common areas. airflow ensures adequate fresh air while minimizing volume. sports hall ventilation can accommodate full capacity during events. heating and cooling are supported by deep geothermal probes or well water, with possible partial thermal activation. photovoltaic panels are installed on the non-accessible upper roof.