Primary School Wehrli
The Wehrli primary school was built by Zurich architect Erwin Schoch after a competition in 1950-52. The complex, which is typical of its time, comprises a classroom wing, a housekeeping wing, a kindergarten and a gymnasium. The well-preserved complex is characterized by a large amount of original building fabric and is expected to become listed shortly. After around 70 years of operation, it will be subject to operational improvements as well as a renovation with a focus on structure and energy saving in close consultation with the City of Kreuzlingen and the Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments.
The tender proposed locating the teachers' rooms in the classrooms of wing 2 and adding an extension to the west side of the gymnasium with two additional classrooms. MET Architects' entry instead proposes a restoration of the original typology and use of space to protect the historic complex: The scattered utilitarian additions would be removed and the east-facing rooms in both main wings could once again be used for classroom teaching. With new doors, they can be connected to each other, thus achieving a high degree of flexibility in use. The library will be relocated to the large, well-lit room at the end of wing 2, and the wide corridors will be used for fixed group workstations.
Three possible locations were developed from the original building logic for the additional space required for teachers' rooms. In the first option, the janitor's apartment is converted for the teachers' rooms with only a minimum of alterations. The floor plan provides flexible and diverse spaces for meetings, workstations and a teachers' lounge. The second option proposes a glazed wooden structure with a monopitch roof in place of the bicycle shelter in the center between the two wings. The recess hall becomes a convenient waiting area and informal meeting place between teachers and students or parents as part of contemporary school operations. In the third option, a flexibly subdividable teachers' room is added to the extension on the west side of the gymnasium. The access to the annex is turned into a weather-protected spectator area for activities on the playground by adding new benches. After school hours, this space can be made available to the surrounding neighborhood.
The interior design of the Wehrli primary school complex is characterized by finely crafted details and a differentiated color scheme. The existing materials and color combinations are revised with respect to their history in order to create a contemporary, cheerful learning atmosphere. New components, motifs, and materials are developed from the historical elements and inserted as recognizably contemporary elements into the overall appearance.