École fondamentale et Maison Relais Betzdorf
The need for more space to promote the creative development of the students of the Ecole Fondamentale and the Maison Relais prompted the municipality of Betzdorf to expand the Roodt-sur-Syre campus. Thus, eight spacious classrooms have been built for the children of the Maison Relais and the pupils aged 6 to 12, taking into account a flexible use of space. The existing schoolyard, with its outdoor sports field and adjoining vegetable garden, offers space for all outdoor activities in addition to school time.
The development: The central location, next to the sports hall and the basic school, made it possible to maintain the existing infrastructure without further restructuring. The slightly ascending footpath, to which all the existing buildings are already connected, also serves as the main access point to the new school and Maison Relais. The entrance hall is connected to this path at ground level and forms an additional link in the chain with the entrances to the other buildings. The construction of a basement made it possible to create additional parking spaces and bicycle parking spaces. Children from the Maison Relais and cycle 2-4 reach the entrance hall of the building via the footpath on the garden level. The upper floor is accessible via an open staircase and elevator. Two of the four rooms on the ground floor can be divided as required by movable partitions. The central hall is the focal point of the extension wing and, thanks to its open design, offers a view of the upper floor. A strip of light in the roof surface provides natural light and at the same time serves for night-time cooling and smoke extraction. All sanitary facilities as well as a kitchenette are located in a separate block opposite the sports hall.
CONSTRUCTION: Due to the tight deadlines, the extension of the school was planned using a pure wood construction method, which allows for quick assembly by using partially prefabricated elements. Environmental awareness, ecological compatibility and sustainability in combination with energy-efficient concepts, which guarantee an optimal indoor climate, were an important element and a central concern throughout the design phase. The facade and the building envelope: the basement is made entirely of concrete, while the structure above is made of wood. The vertical wooden slats of the facade, which appear at different depths, form a relief, which in passing creates a moving image. A dynamic window arrangement with colored glass in the parapet area underlines the playfulness. The slat blinds in the windows adapt to the outside temperature and solar radiation and thus guarantee ideal shading. Each window element is equipped with an opening shutter, on the one hand for controllable night-time cooling and on the other hand for manual operation so that you can react to personal feelings. The roof surface with its greenery ensures a pleasant room climate and blends harmoniously into the surrounding green areas Inside the building, the use of warm colours and durable materials creates a pleasant and calm atmosphere. Umbrellas are reflected as colourful reflections in the classrooms. The sanitary facilities have also been enhanced by colored earthenware tiles. In order to ensure flexibility of use throughout the building, the group rooms, school classrooms, entrance hall, playgrounds in the corridor and the open staircase have been equipped with linoleum flooring. The different parapet heights of the windows provide inspiring views to the outside. Built-in storage units provide storage space. Glass openings in the door elements maintain the link between the classrooms and the entrance hall and allow the school staff to keep an overview. The use of acoustic ceiling sails has made it possible to achieve perfect acoustics in all group and classrooms, in the entrance hall and in the play corridors.
