The shakehands between architecture, open space and nature, the orderly, transparent basic structure, the easy orientation and the relaxed atmosphere are the characteristics that make the educational campus an attractive place to learn. The urban planning setting in the new educational campus is characterized by clarity. Connected structural areas and attractive transitions between individual uses create special places.
The start of the educational campus is the green space at the western tip of the property, which accommodates the parking spaces, offers space for various outdoor activities and, together with the Rems, forms an attractive green border.
The beautiful situation on the river is highlighted in a special way in terms of construction, open space planning and functionality. Here, furthest away from the traffic noise, a five-story house is being developed on the river, the essence of which is characterized by an inviting gesture, transparency, openness, lots of daylight and a view of the Rems. The house acts as a transit space between the interior of the new campus and the river space.
In the logic of its location on the property, the house on the river accommodates the central areas used by everyone involved: on the ground floor the foyer, the dining room and the multi-purpose and leisure areas, on the first floor the administration and seminar rooms for further education and training , on the other three upper floors the guest rooms. All 114 guest rooms offer attractive views: on the one hand to the river, on the other to the green, linear open space. The guest house is accessed via the central entrance – without disturbing the communal areas located there. The administration receives its own, separate access.
The linear open space defines the transition to the workshops. It has lots of glass around its edges and is planted with trees. It attractively strengthens the addressing inside the facility and offers short routes between the individual training areas.
A single-story strip with changing rooms forms the beginning of the building and road construction workshops. This measure creates a lock between the factory halls including the outdoor area and the central area. The workshops for the construction equipment operators in the east of the property form an area developed in conjunction with the overall facility.
According to the specifications, all workshops are designed to optimally fulfill practical operations. They are built next to each other, built without supports and open to the respective outdoor area. With the outdoor area and the additional uses required for operation, they form the core and conclusion of the facility to the north and east.
The entire construction project can be carried out in three phases during ongoing operations. In order to be able to optimally design the construction logistics, the demolition or new construction takes place consistently in the east of the property and is gradually developed towards the west. The realization of the factory halls including ancillary and storage rooms will take place in the first and third construction phases. In the second construction phase, the house by the river will be built, which will accommodate the central area including the guest house. This ensures continuous operation of the guest house and administration. The required 80 double and 34 single rooms will be created in one go. An interim outsourcing of the administration is not necessary due to its integration into the Haus am Fluss.
Parking for visitors and employees is located directly at the entrance to the property. Barrier-free parking spaces are planned in a central location. The linear open space between the house on the river and the changing rooms of the workshops is reserved for pedestrian access, bicycle traffic, the kitchen, administration and guest house as well as the fire department. The workshops and storage areas are served directly from the “Oberer Wasen” street via the open spaces. The halls are provided with appropriate gates.
In their materiality and construction, the buildings reflect the structural activities and training goals of the educational campus as well as today’s requirements for climate-friendly construction. When choosing the construction and materials, the focus is on cost-effectiveness in construction and operation, as is high durability and the lowest possible negative environmental impact. Overall, the complex’s expression shows a relaxed, even casual and at the same time robust attitude. This is achieved through the recognizability of the materials used, which correspond to a refined shell. The abundance of daylight and the omnipresent visual connections to the adjacent natural area support this idea.
The house by the river uses a hybrid construction method: the ceilings on the ground floor and upper floor are planned in concrete, as are the escape routes on the floors above. The guest rooms should be provided with wooden ceilings of appropriate fire protection quality. The facade shows a concrete construction with fillings made of wood or glass. The halls are also planned functionally. They have the required spans that can be created with concrete, steel or wooden structures. Their outer facades are formed by U-shaped building glass elements – depending on the requirements, sometimes double-skinned, sometimes single-shelled – in front of solid walls and provided with thermal insulation.
The design of the outdoor areas follows the clear structure of the architecture and is characterized by the combination of functional concerns and requirements for the quality of outdoor living. The educational campus is framed by a green border. Existing trees are integrated here and planted with trees, grasses and perennials. Primarily native trees and climate trees are used. A mixture of meadows and herbaceous areas with flowering aspects surrounds the buildings and connects to the natural area of the river. The roofs will be provided with extensive green roofs.
The break areas offer different focus areas. In addition to two small sports facilities, there is a sporty balance on a spacious EPDM area with calisthenics. There are lounge areas and table tennis tables for communal activities under a loose set of trees. To the west of the sports areas, there is a spacious wooden deck with a view of the Rems as a retreat in the countryside. Opening up the dining room, a wooden deck extends the interior space into nature. A water-bound ceiling with mobile seating forms the barbecue area. To the east is the training area for construction equipment. In the connecting axis of the administration wing between the workshops, the view is directed towards a grandstand from which the training areas for civil and civil engineering can be overlooked.
