École de Uetikon

Intention – Design Approach

The Kantonsschule and the Berufsfachschule are located side by side on the lakeshore, one occupying the former kiln buildings, the other housed in a new five-story building. Both schools benefit equally from the presence of the park and the exceptional views of the lake and surrounding landscape. Together with the cultural building known as “Engrais,” they form a strong ensemble of public buildings, asserting the site’s new identity.

A new building at the northern end of the site is dedicated to KUE sports activities. An underground parking level concentrates car traffic away from the schools’ outdoor spaces. This frees up the exterior areas, fostering autonomy and a sense of ownership within an open yet protected living environment.

Materiality

Existing materials—brick, steel, and wood—as well as archaeological traces of the industrial buildings on walls and floors are preserved wherever possible.

The use of glass on façades and interiors promotes transparency and interaction. It reveals and protects the original wooden structures while bringing natural light deep into the interior spaces.

Wood is omnipresent in the new buildings and extensions. It serves as the primary structural material, is expressed in the façades, and defines the project’s identity. Its lightness and soft texture create a dialogue with the existing structures, adding a warm, contemporary atmosphere in contrast to the raw brick and metal materials.

MINT subjects, General Education, and Art & Music are organized across three levels within the former kiln buildings.

Sports facilities are located to the north, beyond the power plant façade. Teachers’ preparation rooms and the staff lounge occupy a central position, open to the outdoors and the harbor.

All sectors are connected by two wide interior streets running north to south through the building, offering multiple spaces for work and student interaction. These areas can be freely arranged as work zones or informal discussion spaces. These bridges create transversal pathways between spaces and functions, providing varied visual sequences leading to the lake.

Circulation areas around classrooms feature large openings that bring light into the central halls and visually connect the different levels. The double-height hall reveals the original structure as a delicate backdrop from the moment of entry. It is directly linked to the large courtyard, whose geometry is preserved.

New extensions spanning above the courtyard create sheltered outdoor spaces.

The vocational school program is spread across five levels. Centrally positioned between the Engrais building and the Cantonal School, it incorporates shared facilities for both schools as well as the Aula within its volume.

Teaching rooms are organized over two levels. The central space between classrooms is dedicated to the Gruppenraum and relaxation areas for students.

The Aula is located beneath the sloping garden. Acting as an interface between KUE and BZZ, it is also directly accessible to the public from the forecourt. The media library welcomes users from the sloping garden through a double-height space that opens widely onto the historic façades of the KUE and the lake.

The Mensa, accessible from the same level, offers an exceptional panoramic setting for both schools and for the entire site.

The building’s design highlights the structure as a central element, ensuring durability and environmental performance.
Wood components, such as CLT and glued-laminated timber, are integrated within a continuous envelope without thermal bridges, supported by a secondary structure that carries the double skin. This approach guarantees optimal protection and promotes the local timber industry, with materials processed through a controlled supply chain.

From an energy perspective, the project benefits from a connection to the urban heating network thanks to the proximity of a hydrothermal plant powered by the lake, reducing costs, technical requirements, and simplifying maintenance.

Solar production is ensured by photovoltaic panels covering 70% of the roofs of the BZZ and sports buildings, contributing to energy autonomy.

Finally, the greening of flat roofs complements the creation of a landscaped park, improving cooling and water cycles. A rooftop garden, extending from a balcony overlooking the sports halls, enriches the site experience and opens during special events, reinforcing the link between architecture and nature.