Selective Competition for a secondary school, Muttenz, 2024
REDUCE: Sufficient use of space – to build as little new space as possible
Building sustainably means building as little new as possible. The greatest lever for minimizing the amount of new construction lies in maximizing space efficiency within the existing building. The floor plan is therefore radically optimized; the axial grid of 8.40m x 8.40m forms the starting point. The allocation of one classroom to each bay enables the extremely efficient organization of the standard floors with 14 classrooms, and thus 2 complete clusters, on one floor. 8 of these 14 classrooms are slightly smaller than the specifications of the space allocation plan (65.5m2 instead of 70m2). In return, a relatively small reduction in space in these sub-areas enables a significantly more efficient use of space.
The existing core will be dismantled. Two new atriums bring daylight into the interior of the building, increase the spatial quality of the access areas and allow the arrangement of well-lit rooms in the center. The glazed inner courtyards create a variety of visual connections between the levels – despite acoustic separation. This promotes a sense of togetherness and perception of the school building as a spatial unit.
REUSE: Your own building as an urban mine
The internal and external components of the existing building have one decisive characteristic: they were tailored to the dimensions of this specific building. Any concept for the reuse of building components should therefore start with the elements that can be found in the current building and whose condition allows them to be reused.
The reuse of the façade elements is particularly obvious in this respect. They are cleaned, contaminants are removed from the joints, sandblasted to improve the surface quality and then reassembled. The robust material concrete is durable, low-maintenance and can be easily transferred to a new life cycle. Fine new metal details compensate for geometric irregularities due to new installation situations. The character of the current facility is thus naturally preserved and yet upgraded without generating new CO2 emissions.
As many components as possible are also reused inside the building. Wall cladding, glazing (frames), lockers and floor panels will be cleaned after removal and reinstalled during the conversion. Window frames and lockers are given a new coat of paint. Existing con
RECYCLE / UPCYCLE: Nothing is thrown away!
Today’s windows in the external façade are not sufficiently insulated and are difficult to reuse. However, the aluminum as a material is easily recyclable and can thus be returned to a material cycle. The exterior façade of the addition of the two new storeys is clad in sandblasted, raw aluminum. The rough surface harmonizes with the sandblasted concrete of the reused existing façade on the lower floors.
In addition to the 1:1 reused components, furniture for the secondary school is rebuilt from found materials and thus transferred to a new phase of life. Metal sheets from the exterior façade and the former staircase core will be converted into tables, stools and washbasin shelves. New benches will be built from the former steps (artificial stone) with steel feet from the existing bicycle pavilion. Round arches from the bicycle pavilion roof serve as table legs.
Environmental Backpack
The extension of the building to the west on the first three floors not only creates more usable space for the special rooms. In the area of the remaining upper floors, a spatial structure is added that completes the urban volume and at the same time integrates additional functions relating to ecology, biodiversity and energy generation: The wooden structure serves as a framework for climbing plants and photovoltaic panels. Horizontal surfaces are protected from the weather by metal covers. The terrace above the second floor is not accessible to the public, but has sufficient height to ensure the retention and evaporation of meteoric water and provide a breeding ground for the greenery on the façade. The intensive planting provides natural cooling of the air on hot summer days. The project thus promotes biodiversity and at the same time creates hierarchies in terms of orientation – a green façade facing the green space, an urban façade facing the campus square.
