School of the Future – How Do We Want To Live And Learn?

The design for a new primary school in Braunschweig integrates a sports hall and community center, fostering community ties and innovative educational concepts.

Furkan Sen28 March 20242 Mins read437

School of the Future – How Do We Want To Live And Learn?

School of the Future – How Do We Want To Live And Learn? illustration

School of the Future – How Do We Want To Live And Learn? overview

School of the Future – How Do We Want To Live And Learn? detail

School of the Future – How Do We Want To Live And Learn? example

Whether it’s nostalgic longing or relieved sighs, when looking back at one’s own school days, we all have images in our minds and feelings in our hearts. School has always been more than just a learning factory; it is a microcosm of society. It involves exploring social roles, recognizing personal needs, and discovering one’s personality.

Presentation board cover for School of the Future - How Do We Want To Live And Learn?, with the lead image, project summary and a grid of photographs and drawings — Presentation board: illustrarch. Project: School of the Future – How Do We Want To Live And Learn?; Images: courtesy of Leonie Zimmerningkat

Contemporary educational concepts acknowledge this, but often find themselves in conflict with the reality that comes with inadequate educational policies and various spatial constraints. The new Bahnstadt district in the south of Braunschweig offers ideal conditions for innovative ideas, showcasing what a school can be today.

In this context, my design for a new primary school with an integrated sports hall and community center is taking shape. The starting point for the design was the winner of the urban planning competition. Besides residential areas, it envisions a series of parks and neighborhood amenities. The planning site is located south of the cultural center “H_LLE” and is flanked by a traffic-calmed street and a park.

Second presentation board sheet for School of the Future - How Do We Want To Live And Learn?, laying out the project drawings and images on one page — Presentation board: illustrarch. Project: School of the Future – How Do We Want To Live And Learn?; Images: courtesy of Leonie Zimmerningkat

My design aims to be the centerpiece of the neighborhood, fostering identification with the location and strengthening community ties. In addition to the school building, I plan a community center that is autonomously accessible and can be used exclusively for school activities or externally as needed. Thus, the cafeteria becomes a parent café in the afternoons, and the after-school care facility transforms into a rentable course room.

The sports hall is lowered, connecting the north and south sides. Its use is entirely decoupled, and players can access the changing rooms underground through an access sculpture in the newly created “Active Park.”

The schoolyard takes the form of an organic reinforced concrete sculpture on a raised level. Only a narrow strip is visible at street level, hugging the two cubes. However, upon entering, students experience a playful landscape that also serves as a “bridge” between the school and the community center. Structurally, a hybrid construction emerges, consisting of a reinforced concrete “table” supporting a wooden structure. Concrete cores inside provide additional reinforcement. The classrooms are arranged in clusters by year, with each cluster having four large classrooms, an open learning area, and a loggia. Two grade levels share a common “experience staircase.”

Written by

Furkan Sen

Furkan Sen covers building technology for illustrarch. A mechanical engineer based in Istanbul with a degree from Altınbaş University, he works across construction and architecture projects and writes about structural systems, building services, and how buildings actually get built.