Konrad Lorenz Secondary School?s Design Concept
The Konrad Lorenz Secondary School is the largest building complex in Gänserndorf, Lower Austria, offering accommodation to about 1,000 students. A school with single-storey classroom wings and endless corridors was no longer appropriate. It was for this reason that we worked out a new spatial conception for a total of 40 classes. It renovated and converted the existing buildings to the north and south, between which it erected a new connecting structure. The result is a modern and welcoming school complex where teachers and students can feel at home.
© Lisa Rastl
Through this addition, a unique façade for the secondary school has been created. The light wooden-lamella façade conveys a sensation of lightness and dynamism in the building. Slats diagonally and vertically aligned on top of the native larch will develop a lovely silvery-gray patina caused by weathering.
The generous central aula functions as the school’s communicative and symbolic center. A broad seating staircase with multi-colored cushions connects the garden, ground, and upper floors. Below this area, students can play table tennis or table soccer during breaks or have fun on a gymnastics mat. Abundant daylight from three big skylights illuminates this space.
© EMILBLAU/Martin Geyer
Starting from these public spaces?including the central aula and the refitted foyer?the classrooms have been arranged spatially in clusters. In addition, there are break...