“The Classroom of the Future” in Norderstedt

Designing spaces that shape learning culture

The Hamburger Abendblatt, daily newspaper, recently featured the “Classroom of the Future” at OGGS Harkshörn in Norderstedt. The newly realized space includes learning alcoves, mezzanine platforms, and flexible work settings — creating an environment that supports different modes of learning throughout the school day. The prototype is intended to serve as a model for additional schools across the city.

At the heart of the project lies an early Phase Zero process, facilitated by Trapez together with Forum L. This initial phase was not about designing a room, but about shaping a shared understanding: How should learning feel? How should space support collaboration, focus, and everyday school life? Pedagogical goals, daily routines, and spatial possibilities were carefully aligned to form a coherent foundation.

Building on these insights, Claudia Allmendinger and her team at ida interiorDesign developed the architectural concept for the new classroom and all-day learning space in close dialogue with Trapez. The result translates educational vision into built form — for the first time now realized.

The fact that this concept is being extended to additional schools highlights a key insight: sustainable educational innovation begins long before construction starts. Future-oriented schools emerge when pedagogy, everyday practice, and space are conceived as one integrated system.