Ratzeburg University Complex, Ratzeburg, Germany, 2009

The main aim of our scheme was to design and develop schools amenities within a consistent, uniform architectural whole with a shared common core, and thus it aims to be a strong, identifiable landmark in its urban setting, on the scale of the city of Ratzeburg and the county of Lauenburg. To meet the requirements of the brief for creating empty spaces for school playgrounds and to protect some existing trees, we designed the primary and secondary school buildings with free, flowing forms that sensitively link together the project's internal and external spaces. An overall view of the scheme's layout is very organic, reminiscent of a plant pattern with a very strongly marked central core and branches that extend towards the site's boundaries and contain spaces for the various school functions. In our scheme, the awakening of the senses of pupils in the primary and secondary schools is reflected through the flow of spaces, the changing perspectives, the dynamic of the circulation flows induced by the curved forms, the visual transparency towards the external spaces and towards the upper floors created by the double height of the entrance lobbies.