Waldorf School Mauer, Vienna (AT)
New building,
Building in existing structures,
Timber construction,
Circular construction
Client: Rudolf Steiner Schulverein
Location: A-1230 Vienna, Endresstraße 113
Architecture: Dietrich Untertrifaller and Andreas Breuss
Competition: 2014, 1. prize
Construction: 2022 – 2024
Area: 3,125 m²
Programme: 4 main classes, gym, exercise room, workrooms, kindergarten, after-school care centre, school restaurant
Photos: Kurt Hoerbst, Dietrich Untertrifaller (construction site)
Team
Franca Bierich, Harald Eder, Tobias Indermühle (Project management), Andreas Laimer, Michael Porath, Gregor Ribarich, Julian Roiser, Mia Schury, Jakob Straub, Fabio Verber
Text: Gerlinde Jüttner
Partners
Statics concrete: Gerhard Gschwandtl ZT, Vienna
Statics timber: KPZT – Kurt Pock Tragwerksplanung, Klagenfurt
Building services, electricis: Immo- Objekttechnik, Vienna
Building physics: Dr Pfeiler ZT, Graz
Fire protection: Hoyer, Vienna
Landscape: Carla Lo, Vienna
General contractor: Handler, Bad Schönau
Awards
- wienwood 25 Holzbaupreis Vienna, Award
- gebaut 2024, Award
- Bauherr:innenpreis 2025, Nomination
- International Piranesi Award, Nomination
- European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award 2025, Nomination
An identity-forming ensemble of old and new
The Waldorf School in Vienna-Mauer is divided into two buildings: Middle and upper school in the Maurer Schlössl, lower school and after-school care centre opposite in a single-storey manor house, which could no longer meet the requirements of a modern school: poor building fabric, too few and too small classrooms, no gymnasium. Together with Andreas Breuss, we won the ideas competition for the extension and new construction of the primary school.
The L-shaped new building connects to the rear garden and blends harmoniously with the existing historical building - we have avoided any sharp breaks between old and new. The voluminous hipped roof of the new building, covered with fibre cement panels, extends onto the existing building and is thus also visible from the street. The façade of the old building, which is a listed building, was renovated and restored with great attention to detail. The auditorium, the dining hall with garden orientation, the sunlit, sunken gymnasium, the after-school care centre, the kindergarten and the roof terrace form the main elements of the clearly structured room programme.
A creative learning environment
We have moved the entrance to the school from the courtyard to the west side. The foyer, kindergarten, dining hall and school kitchen are located on the ground floor of the old building, with special classrooms and teachers' rooms above and a eurythmy room on the first floor. The new building houses four classrooms with small group rooms and their own cloakrooms on the first floor, with further classes above with a roof terrace for open-air lessons.
The flexible room concept provides a creative learning environment with a maximum of variable functions and applications: Learning, play, social or workshop zones can be freely designed and adapted to the respective needs. The central access and the clear separation of functions in the interior result in logical processes and facilitate orientation. The high level of transparency of the new building not only incorporates the outside space into everyday school life, but also promotes communication within the building.
The classrooms are accessed via a pergola, from which steps lead into the garden. At the same time, it serves as structural sun protection and as an attractive recreational area for the children.
Lined up along the pergolas, the classrooms offer flexible uses. Learning, play, social and workshop zones can be freely designed. Together with the wood, the clay walls ensure a healthy indoor climate.
The gymnasium
Almost the entire basement and ground floor of the new building is taken up by the gymnasium, which is generously lit by natural light via ribbon windows and offers exciting views in and out. Thanks to its own access, the gymnasium can also be used outside of school.
Innovative timber and clay construction
The new building was constructed in timber using ribbed and hollow box elements, with natural insulation materials as thermal protection. The timber construction elements can be easily dismantled and recycled.
The interior is finished with clay building boards and plastered clay surfaces. The aim was to create largely chemical-free interiors. Excavated material from the site was used for the clay surfaces. Wood and clay have a low production energy and are available regionally.
