081_School Building Hemmerswil

The starting point for the design of the outdoor areas was the consideration of both the existing vegetation and the play areas. A location-appropriate tree and shrub theme surrounds the building structures and allows the seasons to be actively experienced. These provide cooling shade during the hot summer months and have a positive impact on the microclimate.


The vegetation structure enables the preservation of the existing trees while simultaneously reinforcing the new urban planning concept of the complex.

From Lohstrasse, an accessible path with a gentle slope has been constructed, which mitigates the differences in elevation within the project perimeter and strives to interfere as little as possible with the existing terrain. As a result, the hard surface is limited to the playground and the connections between paths, while the rest of the ground is permeable.


In the ground floor, the existing playground is expanded and supplemented with a retention area and new trees, which make the recreational areas more pleasant. In front of the workshops, lies a private seating area. The edges of the school grounds are intensively planted to create a natural boundary with various trees and shrubs providing more privacy for the school complex.

Location: Thurgau, Switzerland
Status: Competition 1st Prize, in progress
Client: School District Amriswil-Hefenhofen-Sommeri
Architecture: Diagonal Architects