Geestland School Kropp Redesign of the school grounds

Anyone who goes to school for ten years spends two years in the schoolyard. This makes it clear how important it is to design this space as a living space especially for children. The schoolyard as a space to play, climb, romp, as a meeting place, as a place to rest and retreat, to gather strength, to relax, to feel good, to experience nature.

With the participation of the students, the school grounds were transformed into a landscape over the course of seven years. The project was awarded the "Goldene Göre" children's charity's most highly endowed nationwide sponsorship prize for child and youth participation.

For several years, the school grounds of the Geestland School in Kropp have been redesigned with the participation of pupils. Participation is not only in the planning but also in the implementation and maintenance in the foreground of the project. Parts of the construction costs were raised by the pupils and the school's booster club. The collected money could finance a considerable part of the building measures.

Starting with a large planning workshop with over 100 participants, which stood at the beginning of the project, competitions, building and action days, elective courses, running days and bazaars have taken place again and again.

The long-term community project is coordinated and led by a planning circle, in which the community, the school management, teachers, parents and of course students are represented. So far, several generations of students have been able to actively participate in the design of their living environment.

So far, a student park, a school forest, playgrounds, outdoor areas for the cafeteria, landscaped atrium courtyards, a herb garden, an orchard and a schoolyard equipped with trees and playground equipment have been created. But the long-term community project will continue. Next on the agenda are ball game areas and a school garden.

The task of our office in this process is to demonstrate, moderate and professionally accompany the participation possibilities.