LWS Primary school
The design for a new primary school in Braunschweig is rooted in a strong relationship with its surroundings – nestled between existing institutions and the adjacent city forest. The architecture is carefully scaled and articulated to create a warm, human-centered learning environment.
Reduce: To meet the city of Braunschweig’s IKSK climate targets, new buildings must meet the highest standards of climate neutrality. Modular and prefabricated timber construction increases precision and efficiency – especially in the façade. Deep roof overhangs provide constructive weather protection, ensuring long-lasting durability with low maintenance.
Reuse: Where possible, the buiding is designed for disassembly. Material selectio, both indoor and outside, prioritises renewable, sustainable, and ideally recycled building components where possible.
Regenerate: An important part of the design DNA is the connection with nature, enhanced by extending and enhancing the forest landscape to embrace the school and its outdoor areas.
Reconnect: The school is designed to enhance community with adaptable learning spaces that reimagine and supplement traditional classroom layouts. The flexibility accommodates a variety of learning formats to encourage creativity and collaboration.
The proximity of the city forest played a key role in the design of the school’s outdoor spaces. The schoolyard is designed as a forest-like landscape, where trees, bushes and tall shrubs create a natural green environment. Green buffer zones between the school and the existing parking area enhance functionality and experience.
The design creates different zones: an arrival plaza, a clearly defined courtyard and a natural woodland playground. A kitchen garden gives students hands-on experience with sustainable practices.
The school integrates with its surroundings, blending with the forest landscape. The architecture, scaled to human proportions, creates a warm and accessible design.
The presence of the forest extends seamlessly into the schoolyard, transforming it into a natural landscaped playground. Green, active roofs expand the impression of being part of the landscape encouraging learning, playing, and growing. Visual connections and places to slow down creates a close relationship between students and nature throughout the building.
The school is organized around a simple and intuitive spatial layout, centered around a large staircase in the the heart of the building.
The central stairway is the main circulation artery, connecting all floors to enable seamless movement and visual connections. It creates a clear and logical flow between the sports hall, cafeteria, and learning clusters, encouraging low-threshold interaction throughout the building.
Type: Competition 1st prize
Program: Education
Client: Stadt Braunschweig
Size: 4.120 m²
Location: Braunschweig DE
Year: 2025 - 2028
Collaborators: Assmann Beraten und Planen
Image credits: ADEPT
