Au School

Gustav Willeit

• Architectes

In connection with the new building of the Au elementary school in the Bregenzerwald, an architectural competition was announced in 2020, with the planning task including not only the elementary school but also a double gymnasium. The award-winning project by architect Bernardo Bader will be realized in two construction phases: the new elementary school was built first, followed by the double gymnasium.

photo_credit Gustav Willeit — Gustav Willeit

The overall project envisages the construction of two separate buildings, which will be positioned in the area to the west of the existing school area so that the elementary school, gymnasium and the existing middle school with the kindergarten are combined to form a campus. A structured and protected inner courtyard is formed between the building complex, which can be used for play and learning purposes, especially in the warm season. This creates outdoor spaces that act as the new center of the campus.

They are the intersection of all paths and at the same time the beginning of inner paths.

This schoolyard also forms the entrance to the new elementary school. Access to the foyer is in a central location on the ground floor in the north-facing, covered anteroom.

The foyer serves as a distribution point for the different areas of teachers and students. Also on the arrival level is the multifunctional room, which can be connected to the foyer. The children's common lunch table with all-day care is planned in the foyer of the existing middle school. The workrooms and central cloakroom are located in the basement, where the two schools and the gymnasium are also connected. Due to the existing difference in level, the cloakroom and the workrooms are naturally lit and both rooms have the option of a level exit to the sports area. The gymnasium is connected to the schools on the basement level; the barrier-free connection for external users or spectators is on the ground floor.
The core learning areas of the two clusters are on the upper floors. They consist of three classes and two group rooms each, the language support room and the learning landscapes. The classrooms positioned at the corners of the building guarantee optimal lighting and create a clear floor plan structure. The two clusters were arranged in such a way that a flexible spatial continuum was created. In keeping with the changing daily routines of the new school types, all learners and teachers have variable views in all directions and facets of the surrounding landscape.

The clusters are characterized by a center that can be easily zoned and furnished as required, to which all classrooms have equal access. Sliding walls allow
the classrooms of a cluster to be opened up to the learning landscapes. Glass elements enable teachers to overlook the learning zones from the adjacent rooms and promote collaboration across grades. The learning landscapes have direct access to a protected outdoor area directly in front. The internal sequences of rooms develop in an exciting and varied way, offering a high quality of stay with a variety of views in and out.

The design of the facade was also praised by the competition jury: “The proposed facade design and materialization also deserve special recognition, the concrete binding nature of which is in pleasant contrast to the frequently encountered reduction to largely just graphic effects.” The ventilated facade is made of larch wood. The basement and the two staircases of the school building were built solidly, while the above-ground floors were constructed using wood.