The Edlach primary school in Dornbirn – play and exercise in the fresh air

by Marion Müller (stadtland)

© stadtland

A wooden structure stands in the middle of a residential area just a few minutes on foot from the city centre of Dornbirn in Austria. In the grassy courtyard of the structure, some children are playing catch while others are whispering together as they eat their packed lunches sitting on a long concrete bench. One boy is on a climbing tower, and he calls down to his friends who are hiding in thick bushes. A little further on there is a paved area where one can peer through the glass façade of the entrance zone to the street bearing the name Edlach. In the long shadows of the street trees, a group of school children with heavy satchels on their back are waving to each other as they make their way home. It can be assumed that many of their parents are already familiar with this location ‒ despite the many changes that have occurred in recent years. Because it is here that many of Dornbirn's inhabitants gained their first experience of attending school but since 2016, it has been home to the new Edlach primary school.

A new primary school in a contemporary design

In line with the school design concept of the Dornbirn authorities, the old building originally constructed in the 1960s has been upgraded in terms of structure, ecological and pedagogical aspects ‒ and the results are something to be proud of. Indeed, Edlach primary school was awarded the 2017 Austrian State Prize for Architecture and Sustainability, ensuring its reputation has spread beyond local borders. The decisive criteria in the view of the judges were the optimal energy efficiency, the ecological design and the pedagogical concept incorporated in the architecture of the building together with the way that the outside space had been handled.

As a result of the play and open space policy adopted by the local authority in 2011, a project for a residential park for the Edlach suburb had been launched, and this proposed a complete modification of the outdoor areas in association with the redesign of the school.

The starting point

The original situation was anything but satisfactory. The play equipment was in a woebegone condition while suitable landscaping, spatial and naturalistic elements were completely lacking. The central and excessively predominant feature was a tarmacked area that extended to 1000 m² and looked for all the world like a military parade ground. The only really attractive design element of the former school courtyard that survived was a group of older trees. The fact that a piled earth sledding hill was popular as a play feature with the children, despite the fact that it looked out of place and strange, was evidence of just how much their play options were limited.

In addition to the play area were a forecourt, school yard, car park and other smaller open spaces. The main objectives of the outdoor design concept were to link these components with the new school building to form a unified whole and thus create an attractive access route between Dornbirn's city centre and the residential site. 

Consultation on the school outdoor spaces

To make sure that all stakeholders could be involved in the project, users and planners were given plenty of opportunity to get together to decide on the future of the school terrain. For one thing, the school members approached the planning team with a wish list that they had put together. Here they expressed what they would like to see in terms of the new open space that would complement their school routine. 

This was the germ of the idea of an 'exercise yard', demonstrating just how much value the school children placed on the opportunity to play and exercise in the close vicinity of their school. The installation of various play equipment was proposed to provide for a wide range of exercise options but, at the same time, adequate space for general usage was to be provided. 

Not only this, but a further wish was for a 'chill-out yard', showing that the provision of a place to withdraw and rest during the school day can be similarly important. Outdoor attractive vegetation was also a desirandum and this wish was expressed in the proposal for a 'Sleeping Beauty garden' for the school. 

The design concept

These ideas were integrated in the overall planning concept.

It was decided to use the main assembly hall of the school, with its glassed walls on two sides, as core entrance element and interface between school and gymnasium, thus providing the major link between indoors and out, school and city. A slightly curving gravel path acts as connecting feature in the outdoor areas. This runs next to the forecourt, past the school building and as far as the further end of the exterior site. This green zone concept thus ensures that Edlach primary school, the surrounding residential area and Dornbirn's city centre are connected by a further attractive pedestrian route. The various sections of the exterior area are coupled with this route like pearls on a necklace. These include: 

Play space 1, extending to 500 m², which is primarily used for school-related purposes. The willow dome on a slightly raised area here has a range of uses and can be employed as an open-air classroom, event space and place to relax.

The slightly smaller 200 m² play space 2 is where the play equipment and sandpit are located. Here there are a play tower with slide, swing and rockers and a large sand play area. 

The existing sledding hill has been repositioned close to play space 2 and has been repurposed as an adventure play space with thick willow and hazelnut shrubbery. The children can play hide-and-seek here and even build themselves little 'huts'. 

The paved school yard is flanked by two large grassed areas; that to the south serves as a large playing field for outdoor games while that to the east offers all users somewhere to sit, lie and relax in the shadow of the trees. 

Another chill-out space is located to the west, in a corner of the site. The hammocks, tables and benches here with the natural planting are perfect for relaxing, picnicking and even as a site for lessons.

Large lawns with early blossoming plants around the two play spaces provide floral and green accents while simple, informal grassed spaces cover the remaining ground in front of the classroom windows.

So that the outdoor space can be used to the full even when the ground is wet due to poor weather, the various areas in the school courtyard are linked with the main walkway by unobtrusive trails made of concrete stepping stones with grass between them. These trails provide a harmonious transition between the paved and unpaved areas. In order to provide privacy to those living next door to the school premises, low hedges have been planted along the borders to the neighbouring properties. Where visual concealment has been considered necessary, the hedges have been allowed to grow high, thus also providing framing elements.

Childhood is happiest in the open air

When at school, children don't just need breaks but also spaces that encourage them to play and exercise. This is particularly important when it comes to the outdoor facilities of any school. It is the quality rather than the quantity of outdoor options available that ensure that an ideal environment that will promote learning is in place. Required are up-to-date and diverse exercise, play and relaxation opportunities, naturalistic surroundings and open structures that do not exclude the possibility of allowing children to use their imagination. Teachers too benefit from such a work environment. They should be able to use outdoor spaces as an extension of the classroom and as somewhere where they too can relax in the fresh air.

Being active, creative, and communicating with others ‒ in other words, being a child ‒ can flourish best in a suitable out-of-door place such as this. The fact that the design of the open air setting at the Edlach primary school has proved so popular with its users confirms that the approach that laid emphasis on a 'less is more' concept was the correct route to go down.