School Campus
In 2019, the Austrian municipalities of Hittisau, Riefensberg, and Sibratsgfäll launched a competition to renovate and expand their shared school campus - an educational hub comprising a primary school, a middle school, and a polytechnic school. The brief called for the integration of the existing U-shaped complex, the extensive use of locally sourced timber, the implementation of a low-tech environmental strategy, and the realization of an unusually high building density for the region.
Situated at the edge of Hittisau’s village center, the resulting ensemble integrates harmoniously into the surrounding rural context. While the original school complex appeared oversized and fragmented due to its scale and diverse façade treatments, the new design breaks down the massing into smaller, well-proportioned volumes. These are arranged around carefully articulated open spaces and public areas, enhancing both spatial quality and social interaction. The intervention strengthens the continuity of the village center and anchors the school more firmly within its local fabric.
The organizing principle of a decentralized “campus school” shapes the master plan: short internal connections, distributed buildings, and programmatic clarity define the layout. The primary school is accommodated within the existing structure, now adapted through selective interventions that introduce generous learning spaces and fluid spatial transitions. A new building houses both the middle and polytechnic schools, bringing together shared functions such as administration, the library, and after-school care to foster collaboration and synergy. A separate central building accommodates the assembly hall and gymnasiums, serving both daily educational activities and community use. A subterranean corridor connects the buildings barrier-free, allowing seamless access to creative workshops and external play areas.
Architecturally, the new volumes appear as refined timber constructions with untreated wooden façades, while the retained existing building has been updated with a modern plaster façade and newly introduced large-scale openings. The interiors are characterized by warm wooden surfaces and a subtle color palette, creating a calm and contemporary learning environment.
A key aspect of the design is its low-tech approach, which prioritizes simplicity, resilience, and sustainability. Technical installations are minimized: a combination of basic mechanical ventilation and manually operable windows ensures fresh air supply, while passive cooling strategies—including night ventilation and architectural shading—help maintain thermal comfort without relying on complex systems. Structurally, the new buildings combine timber-concrete composite slabs and a timber skeleton framework, stabilized by concrete cores.
The existing “Hartl building” was selectively reinforced and supplemented with a solid new stairwell, ensuring accessibility across all levels. The result is a carefully scaled, regionally rooted, and materially honest school campus—one that supports contemporary pedagogical needs while resonating with the local architectural tradition.
