School near Basel by Thomas Fischer Architekten

The secondary school in Laufen, a town near Basel, has an eye-catching cover. The untreated, aluminum-clad shed roofs conceal a spatial concept for bright, generous classrooms. Thomas Fischer Architekten have created a robust building that is perfectly suitable for flexible teaching structures and room configurations.

Compact structure, stacked functions

The school building for the 7th to 9th grades, which replaces two pre-existing structures from 1963 and 1972, stands on a triangular lot among single-family dwellings. In order to minimise the use of land, the architects opted for a compact building with a steel supporting structure. The stacking of the school’s functions can be discerned from the facade.

The two lowest levels are home to the spaces with public or communal functions. The three-storey double gym in the basement can be used for club sports outside school hours. A two-storey great hall forms the spatial heart of the ground floor. This area is used for diverse activities such as eating, studying or school festivals. The first upper level is characterized by atria of various heights that allow exciting views between the levels and down into the low-lying gym. Subject-specific rooms and an area for teaching staff are located around it.

Bright classrooms

All the learning spaces are found on the attic level, which measures 45 x 57 m. A total of 18 flexibly interconnectible classrooms form a row along two multifunctional spaces that can be arranged as needed. These multipurpose areas extend over most of the building depth and facilitate project-related, interdisciplinary work. Fully glazed walls provide the greatest possible degree of transparency. Textile curtain systems add pops of colour and a feeling of intimacy. Each of the classrooms has its own emergency exit via surrounding balconies. As a result, the circulation area in the interior can be minimised and activated for teaching. Twelve north-facing shed roofs ensure an optimal supply of natural daylight. They cover the entire roof surface and give the learning landscape a striking appearance on the outside.

North-facing shed roofs provide even lighting conditions. © Julian Salinas Fotografie

Prefab efficiency

According to Thomas Fischer, the steel supporting structure “was conceived as a pragmatic, powerful framework”. Five two-storey trussed girders, each of which is just under 6 m tall, carry the shed roofs and the ceiling above the gym and great hall. Some of these were prefabricated at the factory and then assembled on-site with screw connectors. Prefabricated wood elements horizontally stabilize the pressure-stressed top chords of the trussed girders. The membrane of the roofs, which face south, consists of rear-ventilated stainless-steel sheeting with added photovoltaic panels.

Read more in Detail 3.2024 and in our Detail Inspiration.