Secondary School and Hall, Klaus (AT)
New building
Client: Municipality of Klaus
Location: A-6833 Klaus, Treietstraße 17
Architecture: Dietrich Untertrifaller
Competition: 2001, 1. prize
Construction: 2013 – 2014 (construction phase 2/hall) / 2002 – 2003 (construction phase 1/school)
Area: 6,940 m² (2,440 m² hall)
Programme: School, assembly hall, library, hall with two-storey sports hall and three-storey multi-purpose area for 250 pupils / 600 visitors
Photos: Bruno Klomfar, David Matthiessen
Team
Sonja Kiel, Anna Küng, Anna Norrgard, Peter Nußbaumer, Isabella Pfeiffer (Project management), Martina Simoncini
Text: Gerlinde Jüttner
Partners
Statics concrete : gbd, Dornbirn / Mader & Flatz, Bregenz
Statics timber: Pock, Spittal / Merz Kley Partner, Dornbirn
Building services: Team GMI, Dornbirn / Synergy, Dornbirn
Electrics: Hecht, Rankweil
Building physics: Team GMI, Schaan / Weithas, Hard
Acoustics: Brüstle, Dornbirn
Landscape: Rotzler Krebs, Winterthur
Construction management: Gmeiner, Schwarzach Master builder: Wilhelm + Mayer, Götzis
Awards
- Holzbaupreis Vorarlberg, Award
- Staatspreis Architektur & Nachhaltigkeit, Award
- Energy Globe Vorarlberg, Award
- Holzbaupreis Vorarlberg, Award
Wooden school, sports hall and library
The new school and the multi-purpose hall were built in two phases ten years apart. The spatial concept of the L-shaped building comprises three main functions: School, sports hall and library. Completed in 2003, the school was built in timber construction in a record time of 18 months and was the first school building in Austria to fulfil the strict passive house guidelines.
Ten years later, the new multi-purpose hall replaces the gymnasium, which was in dire need of renovation. Precise planning, a compact organisation of the programme and a high degree of prefabrication allowed for a short construction time and optimised costs without making compromises on design and quality.
With this pilot project, we have proven that resource- efficient construction is very well possible in harmony with high architectural standards. The school building has received several architecture and energy-saving awards, including the State Prize for Architecture and Sustainability.
A balanced ensemble
The school is located directly on the main road between the entrance to Klaus and the neighbouring industrial area. This exposed site requires a strong and clear building structure that provides a striking landmark. The L-shaped school building is slightly set back from the road and defines the forecourt with its broad south façade. Following the course of the street, the hall is set forward parallel to the school. A two-storey glazed crossbar connects the school and hall and creates a square protected from traffic, from which all functions can be accessed.
Even after almost 20 years, the school is still visually and functionally state-of-the-art. Together with the multi-purpose hall, which was completed 10 years later, it forms a homogeneous ensemble that blends naturally into the small-scale rural surroundings.
The school
In the school building, the main classes are lined up along the eastern façade and the specialised classes along the western longitudinal façade. Three parallel usage zones run between them: a wide corridor in the centre, a building-high atrium on the right and the ancillary rooms on the left. This simple, functional structure results on the one hand from the logic of economy, and on the other hand from the well-thought-out supporting structure of prefabricated timber elements.
The entire construction of the school above the basement was designed as a highly insulated lightweight timber construction in accordance with passive house guidelines. Only the bracing staircase cores are made of reinforced concrete. The prefabrication of the box girder elements, the rapid assembly, the avoidance of complex pile foundations and the elimination of drying-out periods made it possible to keep to the tight schedule of 18 months.
Thanks to controlled ventilation and optimisation of the building envelope, consumption values of less than 15 kW/h of heating energy per square metre of heated floor space and year are achieved. The building is thus the first new school building to fulfil the requirements of the strict Vorarlberg passive house guidelines.
The atrium
In the full-height atrium, access bridges lead to the classrooms and provide communicative access. The centre zone is divided into smaller room zones by skylights and high cloakroom boxes between the access walkways, turning the long corridor into a varied meeting place during breaks. The glass balustrades of the access walkways increase the transparency of this area and enliven the school day with a variety of views.
The multi-purpose hall
In the hall, the two-storey sports hall and the three-storey multi-purpose area also create space for day care, clubs and events. The five metre high gymnastics room can also be used for smaller events. Above this is a rehearsal room for the music club.
The hall - with the exception of the access core and the components in contact with the ground - is also a timber construction of the highest ecological standard and low-energy standard. Glulam beams were used for the supporting structure. Throughout the house, the use of materials is very pure and straightforward: everything that is built with wood is also clad with wood, concrete remains concrete, plasterboard remains plasterboard.
The elongated, elevated connecting wing between the school and the hall houses the two-storey assembly hall, the covered entrance and break area and, on the upper floor, the library for the municipalities of Klaus, Fraxern and Weiler.
The gymnasium
The large double gymnasium is located in the southern part of the building, around three metres below ground level. To the west, a long ribbon of windows opens up the sports hall to the forecourt and provides a good view of the playing area below. The hall's seven variably extendable stands can accommodate 300 spectators.
The striking ceiling features wood-panelled truncated pyramids with 56 skylights. Arranged at different angles and offset to each other, they make optimum use of the direct light and provide the entire playing field with even daylight.
The prefabricated truncated pyramids were inserted into the ceiling grid and assembled.
Hall with wooden slats
The entire structure of the hall has an outer skin of finger-jointed silver fir slats. The south façade of the hall is hermetically sealed towards the street and is divided into rectangular sections of different sizes with varying distances between the slats.
School with copper sheet curtain
The fully glazed south façade of the school and connecting building, facing the public forecourt, is clad with a perforated profiled copper sheet. Like a light curtain, it provides sun protection and privacy from the outside, but allows a view of the Alpine panorama from the inside. At dusk, the effect of the panelling is reversed: The brightly lit rooms are visible from the outside and the view outside is restricted.
