educational facilities

potsdam, germany
designing technique - preliminary design study
winter semester 2010/2011

The seminar deals with the extension of the existing Helmholtz Gymnasium in Potsdam, which is opposite of the 'Dutch Quarter' and thus has the characteristics of a brick facade. On the school belonging Terrain, which turns away from the road, is a dilapidated, old kindergarten, which is to be demolished. The area thus freed up is to be re-recorded, space for premises in which the natural sciences and Arts are to be accommodated and form an interface to the primary school, which faces east again to the street.

The redesign of the Helmholtz-Gymnasium offers the students a spatial experience, relevant for structuring knowledge as well as improvement of retentivity during the acquirement of knowledge. A way-room-order as central theme guides the pupils inbetween the buildings and offers sufficient space cointaining the original school (normal classes), the former gymnasium, now transformed into a cafeteria, and the new school for science, which is located in the back on the terrain of the former kindergarten, connecting this complex to the adjacent primary school.
Below the new complex lays the new gymnasium. The auditorium is located below the cafeteria and is accessed through this, as well as through the building for arts.
The room acts as teacher collateral through specialism in material, atmosphere and chromaticity. The materials chosen for the design of the cafeteria, similar to the original building are friendly and bright. As a contrast we chose dark and hard construction materials for all new structures from the outside and vital green for the break and lounge areas in the inside and on the floors. The classrooms are held in neutral white to give the pupils space for creativity which is not restricted by the built-in wardrobes.

with Maria Gonsior