The City of Winterthur in Switzerland required a public building with a sports hall and primary school in the Neuhegi Urban Transformation Development Area and for the developing of a so-called bipolar city area. The project combined the required spatial program within a compact and efficient building volume under one roof.

The school’s outdoor space, located to the south of Eulachpark, retained its greenery. The school building, opens up on several sides and is permeable in its effect, and is thus integrated into the outside public spaces. Outside and inside, school and neighborhood connect effortlessly. The center piece of the school complex is the large learning pavilion. It allows for inter-class learning forms as well as traditional classroom teaching. Library, group and therapy rooms are integrated into the learning environment and support project-based, interdisciplinary work.

The escape route concept makes all access areas usable for teaching purposes. The triple gymnasium, which is lowered into the surrounding area, is the sporting heart of the school complex. It is easily visible to spectators from the ground floor. The air space extends to the mezzanine floor and acts as a generous central interior space. Adjacent to, it on the ground floor are the access hall and break hall as well as the other rooms accommodating a high volume of people. The three kindergartens are located to the east, facing the morning sun and the more intimate surroundings, with their own entrances from the outside. Thanks to the clear and direct room arrangements, the building can be used for school activities, sporting events or neighborhood festivals. The different operating times are taken into consideration by means of well-thought-out access and separation options.

The compact structure creates a high degree of space and material efficiency. This results in an economical building with energy, functional and operational advantages. The neutral spatial structure leaves room for maneuver in planning as well as for changes in use. The project was planned according to the MINERGIE-P-ECO Standard and met these regulations.