Primary school - extension in modular design

After a construction phase of just three months, the two-storey elementary school extension was built in a modular design in Sarstedt, Lower Saxony. It was designed as an interim solution for the five-year construction phase of the new building. The construction project was implemented while the school was still in operation, which is why CANZLER (formerly Höhlich and Schmotz Architects) also planned alternative areas for an alternative schoolyard. The container facility, consisting of 36 hybrid modules, is slightly elevated in relation to its surroundings, so the site was modeled accordingly to ensure accessibility without additional ramps. On the one hand, the modular design enabled flexible planning for the learning landscapes of a contemporary school and, on the other hand, variability so that the building can be dismantled or moved once the school has been rebuilt. From an architectural point of view, the system offers an equivalent alternative to solid buildings in conventional construction, both from the outside and the inside. The emission-free materials, such as plasterboard for the walls and acoustic ceilings as well as linoleum as flooring, ensure a pleasant indoor climate. Trespa façade panels were used to visually enhance the container facility from the outside so that the container structure is no longer recognizable as such. CANZLER faced the following challenges during planning and implementation: firstly, adhering to a very tight time frame and secondly, implementing an alternative heating source, as gas was to be replaced at short notice. Twelve monoblocks were operated in the rooms as individual heat pumps, each with 1.7 kW of electricity. These can also be used to cool the rooms in summer. The system also has decentralized ventilation and a decentralized air-to-water heat pump. The units are located on the roof and do not detract from the appearance of the façade. The intelligent light control of the LED lighting, triple-glazed windows, high insulation values, efficient ventilation and, last but not least, the simple, room-by-room operation help to save energy.