Wilhelm-von-Humboldt Community School Berlin Prenzlauer Berg

Two schoolyards in a new look

In the Wilhelm-von-Humboldt Community School in Berlin Prenzlauer Berg, 820 students learn in grades 1 to 10. As part of the construction project, the existing and partly listed school outdoor facilities were renovated and reconstructed, financed with funds from the Urban Development Monument Protection funding program. In several workshops, the students of the community school were able to express concrete wishes and suggestions, which were included in the planning for the redesign of the schoolyard.


Concept of the outdoor facilities

The goal of the planning was to create new generous and diverse offerings with various play, sports and learning islands in both schoolyards and to give the courtyards a clear design language and identity. Facade greening and woody plantings create a green framework around the paved areas, which are covered with individual trees.


Schoolyard 1

The newly designed, central schoolyard primarily offers play opportunities for the younger students. It has a uniform surfacing of concrete rectangular pavers in the same format as the existing surfacing in the existing building. The islands located in the schoolyard have textures of play sand, asphalt, and plastic. Play features include an obstacle course, a climbing wall, a ropes circus, trampolines, a synthetic playfield, and hammocks and a nest swing.


Schoolyard 2

The quieter, historic courtyard of the old Ludwig Hofmann building is primarily occupied by the older students. In the courtyard, new trees (red thorn) were planted according to the historic grid and the schoolyard areas were paved in their historic design, in the inner area with yellow coated asphalt and at the edges with mosaic stone paving. The large existing lime trees in the raised beds were retained and edged with new concrete angles. The pedestals of the buildings are adorned with low plantings, supplemented by a trellis according to historical models. Classical Berlin benches stand in front of the planting and create quiet lounging areas.


More.Value.Green.

- contemporary open space offerings for all age groups
- design language responds to the time of origin.