by HASCHER JEHLE Architektur / Bochum, Germany

The School of the future

The new high school school is located south of the Bochum city centre in direct neighbourhood to the natural landmark “Geological Garden”. The new building (13,435 m) is an architectural piece of art. The ring-shaped three-storey building consists of a “communicative” west ring and a “concentrated” east ring. The building design is inspired  by the pressions, mounds and scarps which surround the building Body shell and room geometries, platforms and open galleries inside the building as well as water areas, plantings and pavements in the outdoor areas develop alongside organically curved lines. In this way, the new school building blends in harmonically with the surroundings.

Certified as a Green Building

Creative thinking comes naturally in the “open air classroom” whose shape resembles an amphitheatre. The expanding open space allows pupils to either let off steam or relax. The facilities for fun and sports offered, are a football field,  a basketball court and a  climbing wall. The area offers plenty of variety and boasts seating areas to sit down and relax! Although superlatives should be used sparingly, the new building is a milestone both outside and inside and with regard to its completion (March 2011 and October 2012). The extraordinary facade construction contributes to a positive energy balance thanks to its high thermal insulation values. Let’s put it up front: With construction costs totalling € 31.5 million, the school boasts all the features required to be certified as a “Green Building”: whether heating system or the materials used for walls, ceilings, floors and furnishings.

Curved design elements

The facade is divided horizontally to underline the round, curved building geometry and to enhance the flowing impression of the organically curved lines. Facade rows alternate with transparent glazing and coloured design. This special design feature of the facade row was developed by the artist Ulrich Erben. His colour concept is based on the primary colours red, blue and yellow. The colour composition in the vertical facade modules is arranged so that the appearance of the school changes depending on the respective viewing angle of the onlooker. The rows bear a dedication in three languages, German, English and Latin. Sunshade slats, which are mounted as horizontal rings along the individual floors in front of the facade, provide protection against the sun. The coloured facade rows form a kind of “weather shell” at the ventilated curtain wall. It consists of box-shaped facade modules made of aluminium sheet. Which has a coloured powder coating inside and is equipped with a 7 mm profiled glass covering to yield a plane and smooth outer surface. The modules follow the building geometry in this way and their structure creates a three-dimensional effect which is even enhanced by the protruding sun protection rings. The shape of the facade belts marks the arrangement of the balustrade and attic, and, in doing so, accents the individual levels. 

Dome as eye-catcher

To create a comfortable atmosphere in the classrooms and to promote the pupils’ ability to concentrate during class, the architects paid attention to such factors as light conditions, air quality, a constant temperature between 20° and 26°C throughout all seasons as well as visual, olfactory and acoustic stimulation. The thermal insulation during summer and winter is coupled to a user-orientated heating and cooling system. Connected to the district heating system, which has an 87 % share in combined heat and power generation in Bochum, the building meets the requirements of the Renewable Energies Heat Act. The atrium is the highlight of the building: equipped with an underfloor heating system, it is lit from above by a transparent 1,000 m roof dome. It is supported by a lightweight delicate steel structure over which the triple layered pneumatic ETFE pillow roof spans. Products of the Vogl Deckensysteme range were used for the highly elaborate and delicate ceiling work. All system components are ideally matched, i.e. profiles, framework, VoglAdsorperplatte® compound seam type and VoglFuge® with various perforation patterns, as well as a variety of V-grooves and moulded plasterboard elements. This facilitates dry construction works and leads to a faster result with a homogeneous ceiling design. The inviting stairway and the roof dome as termination make the atrium an absolute eye-catcher in the school building. Although dominated by pure white colour in the ground floor, there are single colour highlights like a red seating area or dark seating elements on the individual floors which add a classy ambience to the interior. As a complement to the white floor and to the wall, one level has been given a dark floor. A white column rises from it and stresses the curved interior design. 

Naturally ecological to the last detail

When it came to flooring it was decided to use a charcoal colored linoleum floor from the company  FORBO („Marmoleum Fresco 3872“). The timeless classic is very convincing in this project through its seamless surface especially in the large areas and sets a colorful contrast to the white design of walls and ceilings; and is also characterized by sustainability and profitability thanks to its natural ingredients and its excellent functional properties (durable, hardwearing and easy to clean). The linoleum from  the world market leader FORBO is based on a natural recipes used for generations. FORBO has therefore already been awarded various sustainability certifications, including as the only linoleum brand, - with the „Nature Plus“ certification. In the New High  School 8000 m of  linoleum were laid.

Sound absorbing and air purifying

The installed acoustic design ceilings from Vogl Deckensysteme, which meet the highest demands in terms of functionality, aesthetics and ensure optimal acoustic properties are used especially in highly frequented areas to give a pleasant atmosphere. Ceiling systems thus do not only serve as sound absorbers but also as eye-catchers. Additionally VoglAdsorperplatte® where used, which absorbs noise perfectly and purifies the room air. If people have to be productive in rooms, they need climatic conditions in which they feel comfortable and which keeps their immune system intact. 

The future at your fingertips

Use was also made of the latest engineering when fitting out doors and windows in the New Bochum Grammar School. FSB’s isis T300 system as an electronic access solution is that one and the same keying system can be used throughout the school and, thus, for the most diverse areas of application. The electronics installed in the handles is visually negligible.

Project partners:

» FSB

» Forbo Flooring GmbH