A new neighbourhood centre with a primary school, family centre and sports hall is being built in the south of Hanover – as an intercultural meeting place and lively hub of the district. The first construction phase of the Mühlenberg primary school lays the foundation for a place that combines learning, everyday life and social interaction. The new building is not only intended as a school, but also as a public living space that embraces the cultural diversity of Mühlenberg and translates it into a built community.
- Project
- New building of a primary school with family centre and two-court sports hall | 1st construction phase
- Client
- State capital Hanover
- PPP Partner
- AUG. PRIEN construction company
- Service
- 1-5 HOAI
- Area
- 12.000 m² GFA
- Location
- Leuschnerstraße in Hanover
- Photography
- Hannes Heitmüller
- Specifics
- 1st place PPP- Procedure
Mühlenberg is colourful, lively and multicultural. And this is precisely what is reflected in the new building. The first construction phase comprises the heart of the project: the primary school itself with its six learning clusters and the forum with an auditorium, canteen and foyer. The buildings blend harmoniously into the existing environment. The two-storey structure is based on the scale of the neighbouring residential buildings. The projections and recesses in the building form a three-sided neighbourhood square that opens onto Leuschnerstraße and will later serve as an arrival area. A sheltered playground to the west acts as a safe and natural retreat for the children.
The light-coloured clinker brick façade gives the building a welcoming, friendly appearance. Coloured façade elements emphasise the division into primary school, administration and family centre: while orange and red mark the primary school and administration areas, the future family centre is accentuated with a bright yellow. Inspired by nature's rich colour spectrum, the colours are complemented by blue, green and red in the interior learning environments. The choice of colours is not only for design purposes, but also specifically supports orientation and strengthens identification with the respective areas of use. The façade is technically complemented by after-cooling elements that contribute to energy optimisation.
Our design reflects the diversity of Mühlenberg. We wanted to create spaces that offer both openness and security.
The design follows a clear spatial concept that brings educational principles to life architecturally. Public, semi-public and private areas are finely coordinated and form a logical sequence. A central access corridor runs through the building like a backbone, connecting all zones in a barrier-free manner. Generous glazing and sightlines create transparency and orientation, while quiet areas provide peace and security. The varying heights, from the single-storey nursery in the south to the two-storey school zone in the north, emphasise the smooth transition between the areas of use and the neighbourhood.
The two-storey forum, which connects the auditorium, foyer and canteen, forms the heart of the new building. It opens up to the future forecourt with generous glazing and also connects to the school playground to the west. Flexible room structures allow for a wide variety of uses, from performances to parents' meetings, from lunch breaks to neighbourhood events. An open gallery on the upper floor creates visual connections and shortens the distances between the learning areas and the teachers' area. This allows the teaching staff to retreat and find peace and quiet while remaining close to the action.
Inside, the building is divided into six independent learning clusters, which are designed as small learning worlds. They offer space for concentrated work, group work, individual support and retreat. Generous sightlines and open zones promote communication and networking in the central learning islands, without losing the possibility of retreat.
Skylights channel daylight deep into the building, transforming learning centres and stairwells into bright, inviting spaces. At the same time, they create exciting visual connections between the learning environments, thereby strengthening the sense of community across the year groups.
Where something new is being created
While the first construction phase has already been completed, the second phase is currently underway. This includes the construction of a new sports hall with changing rooms and a new family centre with a crèche and nursery. The heart of the new centre will be an open parents' meeting place, which can also be used independently of the nursery.
Voices from the team
The idea of individuality within the community is reflected not only in the façade – inside, too, there are many small spaces that cater to different needs. For example, the open-plan library or the colourful laundry rooms. They convey a feeling of creativity and security. And this feeling continues when you enter the foyer. The striking ceiling shape echoes the classic gable, and the generous post-and-beam façade opens up a view of the wide world.
For me, the atriums are the heart of the design. They not only bring light into the learning areas, but also create visual connections and a special spatial quality across all levels.
The sightlines throughout the building noticeably break up the large structure. In particular, the view from the forecourt through the assembly hall into the schoolyard connects the school with the neighbourhood.
It was important to us that the children feel at home in their surroundings. The architecture should convey a sense of security and at the same time arouse curiosity. Just like the district itself.
