2024
Zuoz, Switzerland
Project in collaboration with Raphael Kadid.
Visualisations Ethandeclerk, Structure Pirmin Jung.
The project for the new elementary school and kindergarten in Zuoz blends easily into the slope, under a shared, elongated pitched roof that unites the two school units. Access to the new elementary school is from Via Nouva to the west, while access to the kindergarten is from Plagnoula Street to the east. An arcade forms the covered playground of the new school building to the south. Taking advantage of the urban planning opportunity to create a new short path between the two streets, the school creates a vantage point with a view of the village from the playground. The compact and straight arrangement of the new building clearly protects the views from the houses to the south and east of the site, while the low height of the building allows it to be well integrated into the dense context.
The north-south orientation ensures optimized use of the classrooms. The minimal excavation of the building is used as a garden for the kindergarten. These raised landscaped gardens protect the young children from the public space of the street below. Thanks to the clear, compact layout of the floor plans, it is easy to accommodate the necessary functions in the building in a sensible way. It is also possible to adapt and redesign the floor plans to meet future needs.