Urban design ideas and implementation competition for the “Neighbourhood Square and School Extension at Heinitz Gymnasium” in Rüdersdorf near Berlin
Outcome of the judging panel meeting
On Tuesday, 5 September 2017, the judging panel, chaired by architect Dirk Bopst, Potsdam, for the urban planning ideas and implementation competition “Neighbourhood Square and School Extension for Heinitz Gymnasium” in the Brückenstraße / Friedrich-Engels-Ring residential area, in the assembly hall of Heinitz Gymnasium in Rüdersdorf near Berlin.
Against the backdrop of rising pupil numbers, a new extension is to be built for Heinitz Gymnasium to accommodate approximately 360 pupils in Years 11 and 12 (upper secondary level). The aim of the competition was to develop urban planning concepts for the attractive regeneration of the neighbourhood centre of the Brückenstraße residential area, in conjunction with solutions for the planned expansion of the Heinitz Gymnasium’s capacity.
Given the close spatial and functional interconnection between the two projects, the municipality of Rüdersdorf near Berlin and the district of Märkisch-Oderland jointly launched the combined urban planning ideas and implementation competition. Planning and construction of the new building for the Heinitz Gymnasium are to begin immediately after the competition, whilst the urban design concepts are to be used as the basis for the design of the new neighbourhood square as part of the ‘Social City’ initiative to improve the residential area.
A total of fifteen competition entries were submitted in due time and in the correct format. The competition was conducted anonymously. All entries underwent a preliminary review of both form and content. The jury assessed the entries on 5 September 2016 during a twelve-hour session and awarded a total of four prizes and two honourable mentions to six entries. The jury awarded prizes to the following entrants:
1st prize:
A|SH Sander Hofrichter Architekten GmbH, Ludwigshafen
in collaboration with Christof Staiger, landscape architect, Potsdam
2nd prize:
Heinle, Wischer und Partner, Berlin
in collaboration with LA.BAR Landscape Architects, Berlin
4th prize:
TRU Architekten Part mbH, Berlin
in collaboration with Holzwarth Landschaftsarchitektur, Berlin
4th prize:
Pussert Kosch Architekten, Dresden
in collaboration with Rehwaldt Landschafts-architekten, Dresden
Honourable mentions:
Günter Hermann Architekten, Stuttgart, in collaboration with W+P Landschaften – Berlin.
AV1 Architekten GmbH, Kaiserslautern, in collaboration with Stefan Bernhard Landschaftsarchitekten, Berlin.
From the minutes of the jury meeting:
The competition entry by the architectural practice Sander und Hofrichter, which was awarded first prize, represents a highly original contribution to the overall urban development concept. The jury particularly commended the urban design of the school extension building. The proposed uses – a neighbourhood office, sheltered housing, a market square and, in particular, the grammar school’s playground – were viewed favourably.
The design for the school extension, with its distinctive angular layout, makes a remarkable contribution to the overall urban development concept. This enables a playground design integrated into the open space, which largely does without a fence whilst still creating the desired distinction between the school area and the public space.
The relationship between the new school extension and the neighbouring residential buildings, as well as the existing school building, has been appropriately defined. The integration into the existing building is convincingly resolved, and the visual and pedestrian axis along the Heinitz Gymnasium and the Rüdersdorf Primary and Secondary School is appropriately emphasised. The ‘inhabited bridge’ between the existing building and the extension is also particularly noteworthy. The functions planned there are rightly at the heart of the school.
The project represents one of the few solutions that offers the principle of clustering (units of use) as a possible organisational model for school operations. The space allocated to informal learning thus allows for differentiated teaching. The entrance area, in conjunction with the cafeteria/assembly hall, is perceived as particularly successful. It allows the assembly hall to be set aside for external use without separating it from day-to-day school operations.
With its three storeys, from which the ‘Aulawinkel’ stands out at one-and-a-half storeys high, the building fits appropriately into the context of the surrounding development. The brickwork is very understated, yet contemporary. The distinctive surface texture is perceived as a nod to the historic tobacco barns that were built in the region during the Huguenot period.
The positioning and design of the school extension represent a high-quality solution that provides the flexible space required for modern educational approaches. The jury recommends that the Märkisch-Oderland district commission the designer of the competition entry awarded first prize to carry out the further planning for the school extension.
When the urban planning for the neighbourhood square area is developed in greater detail in accordance with land-use regulations, the defined links between the open spaces on the school grounds and the neighbourhood square must be taken into account. Close coordination between the participating organisers (the municipality of Rüdersdorf near Berlin and the district of Märkisch-Oderland) is recommended.
The exhibition of the competition entries will be opened on 14 September 2016 at 3 pm at the Town Hall of the municipality of Rüdersdorf near Berlin, Hans-Striegelski-Straße 5, 15562 Rüdersdorf near Berlin, by Mr Gernot Schmidt, District Administrator of the Märkisch-Oderland district, and Mr André Schaller, Mayor of the municipality of Rüdersdorf near Berlin, in the presence of the jury chairman Mr Dirk Bopst, 3PO Architekten, Potsdam, as well as representatives of the competition entrants. Representatives of the competition organiser, the jury and the competition entrants will be available to provide further information.
Rüdersdorf near Berlin / Potsdam, 11 September 2017