EXPANSION Schmedenstedt Primary School
The extension of the Schmedenstedt primary school will create a combined location in the historic village centre for the previously separate school sites in Schmedenstedt and Woltorf. The expansion of the »School under the Rainbow« as a two-stream inclusive all-day school will create a central place of learning, identification and village community.
- Project
- Refurbishment and expansion of Schmedenstedt primary school
- Client
- Town of Peine
- Service
- 1-9 HOAI
- Area
- 3.600 m² GFA
- Location
- Smiedestidde in Schmedenstedt
- Visualisation
- abj Architekt:innen
- Specifics
- 1st place VgV procedure
The school is located in Smiedestidde in the centre of Schmedenstedt, nestled in a historic village centre with a small-scale structure. Different eras come together on the site: the historic main building from 1911, the extension of the multi-purpose hall from the 1970s and the former savings bank premises form the starting point for the new ensemble. The design responds sensitively to the small-scale nature of the existing structures and integrates itself into the established structure with a glass joint. The glass joint marks the new main entrance to the school and forms the central connection between the existing and new buildings.
The open joint at the heart of the building not only marks the entrance, but also creates a lively meeting place between old and new.
Anchor in the ensemble
The school is clearly divided into different functional areas: the existing multi-purpose hall, the existing building with the administration and library, and the new building with the multifunctional foyer and open learning environments. The spatial centre is formed by the light-flooded foyer, which functions as a connecting link between old and new, village and school, administration and education, arrival and stay. It provides an overview and orientation, while also serving as a gathering place, exhibition space and meeting point for children, teachers and guests.
Flexibly located
The two upper floors of the new building will house learning environments for grades 1 to 4, each with an open-plan learning centre at its heart – a central creative space that offers room for interaction, movement and retreat. With open, flexible spaces and well-zoned areas, the year clusters support modern, individualised learning, facilitate social interaction and create manageable structures for the pupils. A key challenge here is the transformation of the existing spatial structures into a future-oriented primary school concept – with short distances, clear sightlines and a friendly atmosphere.
Room for manoeuvre
The outdoor space becomes the connecting element between the buildings and an extended movement area on several levels. Different zones promote movement, creativity and community. The active break area features a multifunctional courtyard with basketball hoops, climbing and water play areas. A seating terrace leads to the roof of the single-storey extension, which also invites movement and relaxation. The creative break area features green classrooms, a school garden and a spacious workshop terrace.
New within the old framework
Instead of starting from scratch with a completely new building, the design aims to continue building within the existing context. The existing structures – including the school building with its mansard roof, which dominates the townscape – will largely be preserved and supplemented with new structures. The conscious integration of existing qualities strengthens the identity of the location and makes the school building an integral part of the village community.
