Page 69 - AIT0520_E-Paper

Entwurf • Design ZMIK, CH-Basel
Bauherr • Client Erziehungsdepartement, CH-Basel
Standort • Location Spitalstraße 50, CH-Basel
Nutzfläche • Floor space 400 m 2
Fotos • Photos Weisswert, CH-Basel
Mehr Infos auf Seite • More infos on page 128

ST JOHANN PRIMARY

SCHOOL IN BASEL

Moving around made easy: St Johann primary school
had spacious hallways typical of old buildings – an un-
used potential now fully exploited thanks to the archi-
tects of ZMIK. Islands for learning and moving which
are intelligently and diversely designed support educa-
tion at many levels just as much as the pupils’ imagi-
nation, social competence and joy in moving around.

N ot only reading, writing and arithmetic play an important role in
the St Johann primary school but also the formation of extracur-
ricular interests, establishing a community spirit and allowing ample
exercise. Not last due to this, learning in school is determined by the
concept of mobile teaching. The goal is to further the children’s capa-
city to concentrate and their motor skills thanks to a dynamic alter-
nation of playful movement and quiet learning tasks. Tangible sup-
port in this was supplied by the planners and architects of ZMIK who
turned the school building constructed in the late 19 century into a
th
Isometrie • Isometry variety of learning landscapes. The new spatial structures divide the
hallways into transit zones with coat racks on the side of the class-
rooms and, on the side with the windows, into areas for learning, re-
sting and moving as well as free open spaces shielded by the stairca-
ses. On all of the three floors, the functional as well as design-specific
core element is a slatted construction consisting of oak and thus mat-
ching the flooring. The zigzag structure serves as the back wall of the
coat racks as well as fall-protection and visual boundary to the terra-
ced learning islands which are individually designed on each floor.
On different levels, the pupils are thus able to safely discover various
niches, caves and seating corners which are equally suited for lear-
ning and playing. Complementing the existing red wall panelling,
here linoleum flooring, carpeting and upholstered surfaces in shades
Längsschnitt • Longitudinal section of green and red produce a varied feel and look. Together with the
sound-absorbing lampshades, which have been specifically develo-
ped for the project, the installations furthermore achieve an impro-
vement of the acoustics in the wide hallways which increases the
comfort of spending time in the now more intensively used areas.
Breaks for moving around, some alternative teaching models and
support programmes for small groups of pupils are thus given spatial
options where the children feel comfortable and can consequently
decrease any inhibitions they may have and, at the same time, in-
Querschnitte • Transverse sections crease their motivation.

AIT 5.2020 • 069