The planning task for the municipality of Altenberge involved merging the two existing primary schools in Altenberge, Johannesschule and the Borndalschule, at the site of the former Ludgeri secondary school (which closed in 2016/2017) and the Borndalschule site.
The new primary school at Eiskeller in Altenberge is a successful example of how existing school buildings can be transformed into modern, future-oriented learning environments. Through the comprehensive renovation and targeted expansion of the former Ludgeri secondary school, the two existing primary schools in the municipality of Altenberge were able to be united at a shared, sustainable location.
The resource-efficient handling of the existing building structure from the 1970s, the building's expansion, and the modernization of the school building from the 1990s have resulted in a new primary school campus. Due to the extremely limited potential of the building constructed in 1968 for implementing new educational concepts, it was demolished. The existing building, which dates from the 1970s, has been extensively renovated, retrofitted for energy efficiency, remodeled, and expanded.
The central guiding principle was to preserve as much of the existing structure as possible, to reuse embodied energy, and to unlock the spatial potential of the existing building for future-oriented educational practices. The use of existing concrete structures, along with a significantly reduced use of concrete in the extension, complemented by an increased proportion of wood makes a substantial contribution to a substantial reduction in the carbon footprint.
The new, self-supporting masonry cladding and the new wooden facade incorporate local building traditions and ensure a durable and robust design.
The resource-efficient use of materials, the utilization of embodied energy, the green roof with a photovoltaic system, and the connection to the district heating network also contribute to the overall ecological strategy.
The existing building of the former secondary school was to be transformed from a dark, inflexible corridor school lacking any sense of space, communal areas, or functional connections into a vibrant and welcoming learning and living environment. Preserving as much of the existing building fabric as possible was always the primary focus and had to be carefully considered from an economic perspective. Structural assessments and the removal of hazardous materials were required to ensure the building's preservation. The dilapidated exposed aggregate concrete facade required complete energy-efficient renovation. The new facade was designed to unify all the building sections.
Open, bright, and versatile spaces in both the existing building and the extension now support contemporary learning.
Building on a collaborative participatory process the pedagogical requirements were defined together with the future users and the client. Through the continued involvement of all stakeholders, the required spatial concepts were consistently translated into the design, considering the existing structures of the building.
Likewise, coordinated collaboration among all planning participants and the executing trades was essential to respond appropriately to the existing conditions and to develop and implement necessary solutions as a team in the short term.
The new main entrance opens prominently onto the neighborhood and leads into the new, spacious, multifunctional, and bright forum. As the heart of the school, it serves as a central meeting point and event venue beyond its regular use. Throughout the existing building complex, transparency was created with learning and recreational areas that offer space for independent learning, group work, individual support, and quiet retreat. Open learning and circulation zones, flooded with natural light through large windows, doors, and skylights, as well as transparencies between rooms and levels, establish visual connections and create new qualities.
The new primary school at Eiskeller represents an exemplary project in the handling of existing building fabric and the resulting reduction of the CO2 footprint. Existing building structures that no longer met current pedagogical requirements were strategically developed and transformed into a contemporary and open learning environment through a measured expansion. For the municipality of Altenberge, this has created a school site that, in addition to full-day classes, can also be used by various clubs and associations. The new primary school is firmly integrated into community life and illustrates the importance of a qualified examination of existing buildings as a basis for resource-efficient architecture.
