Lessons and free time Brothers Grimm School and Youth Centre

The Brüder-Grimm-Schule in Alt-Oberhausen was renovated in 2015 as part of the urban development funding. In the course of this, the Place2Be youth center was integrated as a new use. The concept of the outdoor facilities follows a uniform overall design with connecting elements and necessary separations between the functional areas of the youth center with café and the primary school.

The outdoor facilities are divided into three spatial areas: the common forecourt area on Lothringerstraße, the schoolyard of the Brothers Grimm School with two courtyards formed by the building structure and the outdoor space of the café directly assigned to the youth center.

The forecourt area on Lothringer Straße is clearly understood as the forecourt of the building. The functions of staying and waiting, dropping off and picking up are separated from the traffic on Lothringer Straße by an open filter of bicycle parking, bollards and pole lights.

A uniform slabbed surface serves as a connecting mirror, into which other elements from the existing building - trees, access points, etc. - and new elements for playing and staying were integrated. Large areas were unsealed and provided with a water-bound surface layer. The barrier-free access to the school and the youth centre is provided by a flat ascending path within the existing lawn embankment. The tree population was largely retained.

The basic structure of the schoolyard was re-sorted by relocating the functions. The matrix of the large movement area remains asphalt with a new top layer. Painted tracks for running and driving games connect outdoor and indoor space in the area of the covered break hall in the sense of the building design. A multi-functional team playing field with

minitors was created in the area of the former school garden. The two inner courtyards serve as calming recreation zones. The northern courtyard is filled with a wooden grandstand as a generous seating element. In the second courtyard, the 'green oasis', hammocks offer secluded places to relax.

The youth centre is reached via the common forecourt on Lothringer Straße. A graffiti wall disc designed by young people serves as a signet. The café is housed in a glass extension, the slightly elevated outdoor terrace is part of the forecourt.

By relocating the garbage storage area to the southern part of the schoolyard, another courtyard was gained for the youth center. It is designed as an outdoor lounge with movement elements. Three flexible pieces of open-space furniture can be arranged to form lounging landscapes or small huts. The shape and weight of the furniture imply the need for collective action to create new temporary places. Green pergolas provide shade.