Montessori Primary School “Am Pistorhof” Cologne

Urban Design Concept:

A new 4-stream Montessori Primary School with two separate gymnasiums was constructed on the “Am Pistorhof” site. It features a distinctive architectural language and harmonizes with the urban scale of the adjacent buildings. Maria Montessori’s pedagogy is reflected in various aspects of the building.

The two gymnasiums to the east face the existing residential development. A glass forum adjoins the gymnasiums, featuring an activity area and integrated wooden tiered seating, serving as a meeting point and oasis for the children. They create a sheltered recess, offering protection like a nest. Here, children can learn, work, celebrate, and develop projects together. From this forum, two finger-shaped school wings extend westward, forming the lateral boundaries of the schoolyard. The schoolyard opens towards the park, where it finds its western boundary. On the street side, the building rounds off the urban context, creating a small forecourt with a canopy to welcome students into the building. The separately standing caretaker’s house forms the western end of the complex. This highlights its distinct function, while maintaining cohesion through the consistent architectural language.

Functional Concept:

The gymnasium can be accessed directly from every floor. The corridors of the classroom wings open towards the light, allowing natural daylight to flow in. Niches are arranged in the corridors in front of each classroom, integrating cloakrooms, shoe cabinets, or bag lockers. The corridors are not obstructed by open doors. Each floor features self-contained classroom groups, each with four classrooms, a multi-purpose room with an ancillary room, a supervision room, student restrooms, a cleaning supply room, and a teaching material room. The exterior walls consist of colorful brickwork in combination with HPL panels, and the roofs are covered with tile or metal sheeting.