Spectacular new school building in southern Hamburg

For 67 million euros, an architectural masterpiece for around 1,000 pupils was created on a three-hectare plot of land in the heart of the Vier- und Marschlande.

The new Kirchwerder district school in Hamburg’s southernmost district (Germany) is one of the most modern schools in the Hanseatic city. According to a design by Berlin-based Thomas Kröger Architekten GmbH and Roswag Architekten GvA mbH, two three-storey, approximately 100-metre-long building structures were built on Kirchenheerweg, each standing diagonally to each other. With their high gable ends and curved walls, the new buildings are reminiscent of the typical local farmhouses, while also offering a futuristic and modern look. The complex with a gross floor area of almost 14,000 square metres also includes a free-standing three-field sports hall in wood hybrid construction.

Spectacular façade made of six kilos of clay bricks

The school buildings with the KfW 40 efficiency standard are also of hybrid construction, made of steel and wood. They have a combined heat and power plant powered by biomethane, a photovoltaic system and a total of 4,700 square metres of green roof area, which contribute to improving the microclimate. The aim is for the school buildings to be Gold certified by the German Sustainable Building Association (DGNB). Its brown façade, inspired by the floor-to-ceiling reed roofs of old farmhouses, is spectacular. Handmade clay tiles from Denmark cover both the sloping and vertical areas. Each brick weighs six kilos.

Exposed concrete dominates the interior

The interior of the modern school has plenty of space for classrooms, workshops, a library, canteen and auditorium. The classrooms branch off from wide corridors and small foyers that serve as living areas. The centrepiece of the modern new building is the futuristic auditorium directly under the roof, which slants upwards like a tent. With lots of glass and partially floor-to-ceiling windows, the school appears open and transparent. Exposed concrete dominates the walls. Black doors and window frames contrast with this and the light-coloured floors. The design concept is rounded off by the light ceilings, where white-painted Troldtekt acoustic panels in A2 were installed on more than 7,000 square metres. Their effective sound absorption creates a better learning and living environment in the classrooms dominated by sound-resistant materials, the large auditorium and the hallways. At the same time, they meet the highest fire protection requirements (A2-s1, d0 according to EN 13501-1).