The main requirement of the competition
was to combine two existing secondary schools in one location and complementing
the program with a new music school and an additional gym. The surrounding area
of the school is characterized by an extreme heterogeneous development, with a
wide range of buildings with various functions and styles.
The design comprise a compact five-storey
cube which rises in the surroundings as a distinctive landmark, combined
with two lower volumes and three
courtyards, within a chessboard formation. This strong formal design acts as a
stable crown in the urban sprawl, the main characteristic of the surroundings.
The main concept behind the formal design is the creation of a variety of
spaces that can clearly organize the functions of the building. The external facades are cladded with
perforated metal panels that act as sunscreen and provide both an image of
continuity to the outside viewer, and a subtle sense of intimacy in the interior
spaces. The courtyards are both physical and visual connections between the
different volumes and perfect meeting places for the pupils during the
recreational breaks. Each courtyard has a distinct identity, regarding its
solar orientation and landscape design. As for the main cube – “the cube of
education” - the program is distributed on the five floors around a central
atrium. Acting as the main spine, scissor stairs grant direct access to all
parts of the buildings.
Amstetten is one of the
first schools to be registered as a green Climate:Active building in Austria,
which is the equivalent of the LEED qualification (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design). The construction
is due to start in the beginning of February 2012 and it is expected to be
completed in June 2014.
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