Margarethe-Steiff-School
Barrier-free with wood
Location:
Möhringen
Client:
Maximilian Otto + Ursula Hüfftlein-Otto, Diplom Ingenieure, Freie Architekten BDA Stuttgart
Building owner:
City of Stuttgart
Site management:
Eichenseher Ingenieure, Pfaffenhofen
Size timber construction:
1,650 m² timber and glass façade Glulam spruce 50 x 220 mm
The 2-storey, 58 m long extension to a special school for the physically disabled combines the existing school complex with the surrounding landscape thanks to its material mix of natural-coloured clinker brick, wood and glass. The glass roof inserted in the centre closes around an elliptical building section with a green roof. The two U-shaped buildings attached to the north side are connected by two “tree houses” resting on supports.
The new foyer is a versatile space that forms the new centre of the school. In addition to the dining area, there is also a central meeting area. The two floors are connected by a lift and a wheelchair-accessible ramp system. Almost all practice rooms on the ground floor lead directly into the school garden via external doors.
The upper floor houses the main school classrooms and other science classrooms.
The glass roof we manufactured for the main part of the building, which has an area of around 120 m2, is shaded by five internal counter-tensioning systems. The design challenge: to fit the glass roof with a connection on both sides to a polyline with a 7° polygonal incline and to produce the corresponding double-curved glulam beams.
The project was based on detailed three-dimensional planning of all components. In addition, the centrally located, elliptical multi-purpose room was given a segmented glass skylight and two ribbon windows with curved glazing, which allow a view of the hustle and bustle in the atrium.
Our scope of services included the complete façade package: planning, material supply, prefabrication, transport and installation as well as the installation of fixed and movable sun protection systems. The 1,650 m² timber and glass façade consists of a 2,300 running metre mullion and transom construction with glulam elements in spruce. The parapet transoms were largely designed as internal window sills. Fixed horizontal slats are fitted in front of the aluminium window elements, which serve as both sun protection and fall protection.
