SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR DISABLED CHILDREN, SONDESCHULE SCHWECHAT, AUSTRIA by Hemma Fasch
Speakers
Hemma Fasch
The concept was determined by two essential underlying criteria – specific requirements for disabled teenagers on the one hand and the lot being extremely exposed to traffic noise (both from air and street) on the other.
To the south, class rooms, craft and staff rooms are provided by a conservatory which acts as a buffer protecting them from noise and cold weather. By means of sliding roof shading elements, the amount of sunlight entering is regulated. This floor plan is expanded by shielded patios on both levels.
In order to express a natural and positive attitude toward physical disabilities and encouraging the pupils’ sense of self-acceptance when exercising or moving their body, the gym was located in the centre of the building as an open, translucent hall. Leading to the lowest level of the gym, a gentle slope provided with stairs to sit on serves as linking element between the adjacent garden and the common rooms of the school, the largest of which may be used as central meeting place for drama performances or school parties. There is also a school garden where pupils may plant flowers and vegetables which should encourage their relationship to nature and sense of responsibility.
All floor levels are reached by a glass-paned cascade staircase alongside the eastern and western façade of the building. Corridors and main rooms are illuminated not only by sunlight entering through the vast glasspaned facades, but light also enters from light bands in the roof. The light then is conducted by glass-panels in the corridors and winter garden through all floor levels into the building’s core areas.
Data
Awarding authority: Sonder- schulgemeinde Schwechat, Wien; Kommunalleasing GMBH
General planning: fasch&fuchs
Statics: Werkraum Wien
Building services: Haustechnik Planungsgesellschaft
Building physics: Dr. Pfeiler, Graz On-site building inspection, Werner Scherhaufer, Wien
Project manager: Günter Bösch Team Florian Bylow, Eva Germann, Thomas Mennel
Competition: 2001 – 1st prize
Start of construction: 01/ 2004
Completion: 07/2006
Contract value: 7,7 million Euro
Gross floor area: 3,287 m²
