Redesign of the outdoor facilities of the Finsterwalde grammar school Large schoolyard

In the historic surroundings of a listed building ensemble by the architect Max Taut, the conversion and redesign of the large schoolyard was the core of the entire campus conversion.

The basic design idea was a lowered, almost square plaza area ("sunken garden"), which in suitable weather conditions can be used as an ice-skating rink equivalent to historical illustrations.

The large schoolyard was originally not very structured and thus multifunctional. This principle was also to be retained in the redesign. The formal language of straight, functional lines was also adopted for the large schoolyard.


The lowered area of the sunken garden is located approx. 50 cm below the existing level and is accessed by means of circumferential double-rowed seating steps as well as by walking steps. The barrier liberty is secured over a laterally arranged ramp, which serves in addition for the maintenance of the surface.
For paving, large-format, surface-finished concrete slabs were used as a reminiscence to the existing buildings.
The direct path between the two school buildings runs laterally through the sunken garden and is accessed via the steps.
The seating steps of the sunken garden can be used as a supplement to the open staircase in front of the assembly hall for outdoor events.
In order to ensure that the use of the entire courtyard is also possible in the dark times of the day, lighting of the courtyard has been provided. This consists of a solitary single pole luminaire with a modular lighting system, tailored to the needs of the user and accordingly individually switchable. This includes basic illumination, small-scale use lighting at the walkways, and event/stage illumination of the plaza as needed.


The historic avenue was preserved in its form and was enriched with a municipal work of art by the Senftenberg sculptor Ernst Sauer "Die Schreitenden".