primary school OBSTEIG-1st place

The parish church of St. Joseph, the small, striking mortuary chapel, and the elementary school building together form a harmonious triad at the edge of the village bordering the Inn Valley, creating a distinctive village center. Simple, large-scale structures with sloping roofs and clean lines characterize the village’s appearance. The existing school building, through the removal of unsightly facade additions and the necessary thermal renovation, stands out as a simple yet expressive, freestanding structure from the second row of buildings. A new, pavilion-like facade is placed in front of this monolithic volume, its delicate articulation interwoven with the canopy structure of the mortuary chapel, providing a high-quality finishing touch to the communal square. The new gymnasium building, with its lowered floor level, integrates discreetly into the sloping topography of the school garden without detracting from its character. A gentle turn and a connection via a small articulated foyer create a sheltered outdoor area for the after-school care program and allow direct access to the school building from the new parking area on the west side. The existing stairwell is transformed into a central atrium by removing the steps, connecting the active areas at the heart of the school and flooding these spaces with natural light. Vertical access to all floors is logically located – directly accessible from the entrance and cloakroom. Along this access axis, the principal’s office with an adjoining meeting room is situated on the ground floor, while the remaining administrative offices with their own outdoor area are located on the upper floor. The new gymnasium building, with its slightly lowered floor level, is directly connected to the restrooms via a connecting passageway. The green roof, seemingly floating above the gymnasium, floods the space with natural light from all sides, and the equipment room is directly accessible along its length. Here, a reduced ceiling height allows for a generous canopy design, which also serves as the building’s sunshade.