Walkermatte School Complex, CH-Biel
The Walkermatte school complex is located on the southern slope above Biel in the Beaumont neighborhood. It was built in the late 1960s as a terraced exposed-concrete structure. With the introduction of the early elementary grades through second grade, there is a greater need for daycare, which is to be met by an expansion of the facility.
Accessible from the playground, the single-story building mirrors the dimensions of the existing, underlying kindergarten along all its major edges. The main rooms face southeast toward the city and the view. These three large rooms can be combined to form a column-free, rectangular hall measuring 230 m².
With its four entrances, it can accommodate even large and complex events. If needed, the open space can be generously connected to the interior spaces, allowing the building to open up to the city and the view. A staircase leads to the roof of the new building. This rooftop garden forms a sort of island within the bustling school grounds.
