Klein Flottbeker Weg Primary School is a three-stream elementary school in Hamburg - and the first in the city to be built as a CO₂-neutral building.
To minimize energy consumption so that no additional carbon emissions appear in its climate balance, Trapez designed a compact building form. The use of natural resources such as daylight and fresh air is optimized, while operations are based on a sustainable energy supply.
The three-wing school building encloses the triple sports hall on two sides, reducing exposed exterior façades and bringing the hall close to the foyer — the central space of the school. The foyer serves both as entrance and heart of the building, from which all areas can be reached in just a few steps.
A defining feature of the design is the generous, flexible preschool landscape. Its open structure allows for a variety of spatial settings. Elements such as curtains or rotating shelving units enable areas like the “construction kit,” atelier, and learning workshop to function either as independent rooms or as part of a continuous open space.
In response to the smaller scale of the surrounding neighborhood, the new building is set slightly back from the street, creating a forecourt that acts both as a buffer and a welcoming arrival space. In both its energy concept and its spatial design, the school embodies flexibility: reducing its environmental footprint while offering children a variety of ways to learn, play, and explore.
Photo Credits: Meike Hansen, archimage
