Plänke School Gymnasium, CH-Biel
To meet the growing need for school space, the dilapidated gymnasium is to be replaced with a new building. In addition to a single-purpose gymnasium that meets current standards, this building will include expansion space for the day school and the elementary school.
The existing school complex is arranged around the playground, which is situated in the middle of a nearly enclosed, heterogeneous block perimeter. Conceptually, the new building consists of two cuboids stacked one on top of the other and nested within each other. The base floor takes the place of the gymnasium slated for demolition and continues to spatially enclose the school complex and the playground. The new building preserves the existing spatial quality of the playground. The upper floors close the gap between buildings and complete the perimeter block, thereby clarifying the urban planning situation. The two functions — physical education and classroom instruction — are separated both volumetrically and organizationally. The entrance to the building is located at the point where the two volumes overlap.
The ground floor serves as the entrance and circulation level for the gym, all-day school, and classroom expansion. An open, cascading staircase connects the floors. The circulation level serves as a communal space and provides additional area for the classrooms. It also allows for a direct connection to the stairwell of the existing building. The level containing the classrooms faces the courtyard. Learning and work areas are thus oriented toward the more private atmosphere of the school grounds.
