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Dornach campus

description

Competition proposal

In 2025, the municipality of Dornach launched a design competition for the extension of Brühl School. Environmental sustainability, cost efficiency, and flexibility are the key principles guiding the proposed intervention. A new building is planned to accommodate the three sections of the 1st cycle (n.6 classrooms). To minimize environmental impact – by reducing  embodied energy and overall costs – the project proposes a compact new volume, limiting land consumption and concentrating internal circulation spaces. The building has a square plan of 25m x 25 m, with rooms arranged in a pinwheel layout. The structure is made of timber for rapid construction, while the screeds are made of rammed earth instead of cement-based screeds. The flat roof accomodates photovoltaic systems. A central skylight with controlled openings enables natural light-time cooling. Windows include operable sections for natural ventilation and are shaded on the south, east, and west façades with external blinds. All classrooms are designed to be flexible, supporting different teaching methods and spatial configurations. In some cases, movable partitions between classrooms and group spaces further enhance flexibility. The outdoor space is redesigned to increase the permeability of the currently asphalted surfaces, improve vegetative shading, and enhance biodiversity through the introduction of flowering herbaceous vegetation. The canopy is reconfigured as a more defined structure enclosing a new open space for both the school and the neighborhood, visually connected to the new gathering area.