Primary school
The architects of Hirner & Riehl built a new primary school on the education campus of the Catholic Church in the Munich quarter of Haidhausen.
The building, consisting nearly completely of timber, is an exemplary sustainable construction project. It offers children bright and friendly spaces that are organised into so-called learning homes. For the operation of the school, resource-saving approaches play an important role.
To a major degree, the school consists of solid wood that defines the exterior and the interior character of the building. All walls are made of cross laminated timber that also establishes the visible surfaces in the interiors.
The stacked timber ceilings feature visibly exposed undersides that include grooves and soundproofing strips. Hung ceilings were, thus, omitted. The solid timber structure also makes facing shells.
Along walls unnecessary. However, recesses for ducts, wiring and pipes required consideration during planning early on, leading to planning itself becoming more elaborate.
The spatial opportunities allow for the implementation of a modern teaching concept. Face to face instruction alternates with phases for group or individual work.
Studying takes place while seated at classroom desks in a fixed arrangement or sitting together in a group or on the carpet in a relaxed manner.
Class sizes range from 20 to 25 children who receive tandem instruction by one teacher and one educator. The first conveys learning topics, while the second assumes pedagogical tasks, yet also plays a supporting role. As a result, children receive individual and targeted tutoring.
Classes are rhythmically structured throughout the day according to phases for teaching, leisure and relaxation. On three days per week, classes last until 4 in the afternoon, on two days until 12.15. Subsequent optional after-school care lasts until 6 in the evening and includes project work or shared playtime.
The architects initially presented designs that were perfected for timber construction – orthogonal and with optimised load transfer. As an alternative, they modified the design according to functional requirements, while compromising in terms of construction. Ceilings above the ground floor required relatively long spans of 10.20 m. For this purpose, a timber-concrete composite ceiling found use.
The two emergency staircases along the lateral building sides are also made of concrete.
The original aim of creating a completely adhesive-free structure wasn’t achieved, since there was no alternative to adhesively bonded cross laminated timber walls. However, painstaking effort was placed into preventing the use of hazardous substances.
Beyond that, the clients emphasised the importance of the longevity of the building. This found its expression in the exceptionally good sealing of the building envelope.
Future generations will witness whether the envisioned building life cycle of 100 years will actually be achieved. What can be safely said today is that many pupils benefit from the appealing learning environment and can experience issues of sustainability first hand.
