Schmutteral Gymnasium, Diedorf

As one of the largest wooden buildings in Germany, the Schmuttertal Gymnasium is a pilot project for sustainable learning and CO2 neutrality. The resource-saving plus-energy building designed by Hermann Kaufmann and Florian Nagler is a timber frame construction. It consists of four interconnected cubes: the two northwestern wings serve pure teaching, the southern one focuses on community work, and the eastern one houses the gymnasium. The exterior stylizes regional wooden barns in a rural idyll. Inside, the honest construction of warm wood shapes the aesthetics and atmosphere of the building complex. At the same time, the architectural design shapes the pedagogical one: landscapes for independent learning are here part of an open and transparent spatial continuum with "marketplaces", quiet zones that smoothly transition to classrooms. The four structures form a sheltered courtyard in the center with generous seating islands. The triple gymnasium with adjoining rooms to the south appears bright and friendly. The beige of the linoleum floor is intended as a deliberate continuation of the same-colored ceiling and walls - the hall appears as a whole. The architect Hermann Kaufmann felt that the ecological advantages of the floor covering were decisive, as well as the possibility of using linoleum for low-pollutant construction and, last but not least, its design possibilities for bringing color into the building.