Scharounschule (Volksschule Westfalenstraße)

Geschwister-Scholl-Gymnasium in Lünen aside, the former elementary and secondary modern school in Marl is the only realised school buildings built by architect Hans Scharoun and embodies the “organic construction” propagated by him.
Rather free of any urbanistic restrictions in the then new housing area Drewer-Süd the building was built “from within”, as it were.
The complex was built between 1964 and 1970 with an assembly hall for 522 people, a gym and class rooms.
The centre is the large assembly hall, which with ascending rows of seats inside rather looms above the other parts.
The one-storey, individually discernible class areas do not only include the class rooms as such but also a common room and an open space for open-air lessons, a cloakroom and toilets. A class’ community spirit is thus also promoted in spatial terms.
“Organic construction” here finds expression in the honeycombed, pavilion-like arrangement of the class areas and the irregular arrangement of the buildings.

Author: Editorial staff baukunst-nrw
Last changed on 14.08.2007

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Architecture » Public Buildings » Schools/Kindergartens/Nursing homes