Volksschule Siezenheim Wals-Siezenheim
With around 15,000 inhabitants, the sprawling municipality of Wals-Siezenheim is considered Austria’s largest village. Located in no-man’s-land on the edge of a military compound, the precise geometry of this school establishes a clear and identity-defining anchor point.
The two-story building with an almost square footprint is defined by structural elements of white concrete and infill panels of pale wood. Its distinctive appearance stands out prominently from the otherwise unremarkable surroundings. A paved forecourt with integrated islands of greenery leads to the colonnaded school courtyard, from where the elementary school, the music school with rehearsal room, and the gymnasium—also used in the evenings by numerous local athletic clubs—is accessed.
All communal functions are located on the ground floor, including the central cloakroom and the assembly hall with a serving area and lunch space. This south-facing sequence of rooms spans almost the entire width of the building and opens toward the landscape with floor-to-ceiling glazing. The western wing houses the after-school care facilities, with separate rooms for study and play. Deep, sheltered terraces allow outdoor use even in poor weather.
From the auditorium, seating stairs lead northward to the upper floor, where the overall volume dissolves into smaller, clearly structured units. Two clusters, comprising a total of nine classrooms, are arranged around open learning zones. The administration, including the principal’s office, secretariat, and meeting room, as well as the specialized classrooms, is also located on this level. A rich variety of spaces supports both collaborative and individual learning: classrooms, marketplaces for open learning, individual study pods, outdoor classrooms, and places for children to retreat. When needed, the classrooms can be expanded into large learning studios using floor-to-ceiling sliding partition walls.
All concrete and wood surfaces have refined exposed finishes. Heating and cooling are provided by a groundwater heat pump with activated slabs (including ceiling cooling). Generous overhangs and external shading minimize solar gain in summer, while a ventilation system with heat recovery and night cooling ensures an optimal indoor climate. A photovoltaic system on the green roof achieves a peak output of 152 kWp. Thoughtful planning and careful execution make this building a model example of the emerging aesthetic of sustainability.
[ Siezenheim Primary School, Wals-Siezenheim ] Architecture: Thalmeier Architektur ZT GmbH. Client: Gemeinde Wals-Siezenheim. Structural design: Quercraft GmbH. Landscape architecture: DnD Landschaftsplanung ZT KG. Procurement procedure: Open, two‑stage design competition with implementation (above EU threshold). Planning and construction period: 2019–2024. Usable floor area: 8 242 m². Address: Mühlwegstraße 22, 5071 Wals-Siezenheim, Salzburg.