Ruppin Elementary School, Berlin

The former “Friedenau Community School for Boys and Girls” was built in 1913 according to plans by Hans Altmann; the buildings are listed as historic landmarks. The school’s facade was renovated first. Rusting steel beams embedded in the masonry had to be replaced urgently, crumbling bricks had to be removed, and valuable ceramic tiles had to be repaired. After the facade work was completed, the interior renovation began. The conversion of the attic space in the side wing addresses the school’s significant lack of space. All levels are connected with barrier-free access, and the new elevator in the side wing serves all floors. The connecting structure links the two building sections across all floors. The larger new cafeteria has direct access to the schoolyard. The room acoustics are designed to be accessible to everyone, in line with the Senate initiative “Berlin – Design for All.” The core idea of the design is the implementation of the “compartment” or “cluster school” concept. Given the existing structure, this can be achieved with minimal alterations. Classrooms for a single grade level are grouped on a single floor; the hallways become “learning landscapes”; and decentralized workspaces for educators complement the concept, creating optimal conditions for the intensive fostering of learning and social communities.