Heinrich von Kleist School, Frankfurt/Oder

The new building for the Heinrich von Kleist High School redefines the boundary with Fürstenbergstraße and blends into the urban fabric of historic residential buildings. The three-story building encloses the space toward Dresdener Platz and creates a new school campus with a sheltered playground. The two upper floors, constructed of structural timber, rest on a solid base floor made of lightweight concrete. The architectural language of the neighboring historic buildings is referenced in an abstract manner: similar to the historic buildings in the neighborhood, the lightweight concrete base features horizontal pilaster strips, and the upper floors reflect the vertical division of the surrounding facades. The main entrance is via the schoolyard; inside, the building is clearly structured and flexible in its use, with specialized rooms for science, art, and music. The music room can be opened up for larger events. The outdoor area, framed by green walls, can be used as a school garden, a workshop yard, or an additional recess area.