Grammar School Paulinum · Schwaz / Tirol

Paulinum episcopal grammar school Schwaz / Tirol, Austria · Rehabilitation and extension

The secondary school "Paulinum", an icon in the Inn Valley, stands for the christian humanistic idea of man. An EU-wide architectural competition made the redesign of the "Paulinum" from a historic boarding school into a modern school building possible.

The main design idea of Koch+Partner was to preserve the old listed boarding school and church building in its significant solitary position and to place the proposed extensions into the slope behind the school so that this well visible location in the valley is not disrupted.
The new buildings that contain the general education areas as well as the 3-fields sports hall are inserted into the topography of the adjacent slope, while the classrooms are situated in the old building. The auditorium is shaped into the landscape as an amphitheater and acts as a link between the old and new.

The functional concept is determined by its clear separation of classrooms in the old building and the special spaces in the new building. A clearly arranged circulation offers interesting views as well as a high spacial quality within. Old and new are connected through the central axis of the school building. A new linear circulation and distribution axis for all school functions - classrooms, church, general education, auditorium, gymnasium – gives a clear orientation and a view of the gothic church of „Unserer lieben Frau“ of Schwaz.
Courtyards were generated by the intervention into the topography of the slope. The courtyards were designed in different themes so that they contrast the natural hillside fields and make lessons in the open air possible. The schoolyard becomes an attractive break and play area because of the fruit trees that were planted there.

Project facts and figures:

• Location: Paulinumweg 1, A-6130 Schwaz, Austria
• Client: Diözese Innsbruck, represented by the finance department
  Wilhelm-Greil-Strasse 7, A-6020 Innsbruck
• Planning: K+P Architekten und Stadtplaner GmbH  Koch • Drohn • Schneider • Voigt
  Ismaninger Str. 57, 81675 Munich, Germany
• Consultants: Rainer Schmidt Landschaftsarchitekten, Munich
• Total budget: Including planning fees, 13 m. Euro. Total project including restoration

New building

• Gross floor area: 11,615 sqm
• Effective floor space: 6,800 sqm
• Start of planning: 02 / 2003
• Start of construction: 04 / 2004
• Completion in 2 phases:
  Phase 1: 09/2005  ·   Phase 2 with sports hall: End of 2005