Beta Realities

Peter Joseph Lenné Primary School

Can a school’s architecture inspire a culture of community and curiosity?

JSH Primary School Brandenburg redefines modern educational architecture by prioritizing circularity, natural materials, and human-centered design.

Beta Realities envisions the LSH Primary School as a fluid and interactive urban landscape, where the architecture becomes a third educator. The building creates a natural flow between its distinct volumes, with large openings, pockets and niches for welcoming, meeting and vivid exchange. The three interconnected building volumes —afterschool care, primary school (grades 1–4), specialized classrooms (grades 5–6), and a sports hall—all seamlessly embedded into the urban fabric while preserving an optimal learning environment. Designed with modular, efficient timber construction, the school provides adaptable spaces that evolve with educational needs. The four square units, each with a unique function, maintain a cohesive layout that fosters collaboration and community. At the heart of the design is a spacious terrace that links the buildings, encouraging informal learning and social interaction. Sustainability is a guiding principle: tree removals are balanced by new plantings, and the demolition of the old school is thoughtfully reintegrated into the new landscape plan. By weaving environmental stewardship into its very fabric, Joseph Lenne Primary School stands as a model for future-oriented, regenerative learning spaces

Project Region

Europe

Project Period

2025

Location

Berlin, Germany

Team

Paul Clemens Bart, Marvin Bratke, Tugce Nur Koyuncu Drake, Boyan Hristov, Anton Klyshnia, Andrei Dan Musetescu

Status

Concept

Programme

Education

Client

City of Hoppegarten

Collaborators

RSLA

Size

11.000 sqm

Learning Clusters create a vivid Environment.

Giving the space program a human scale, the school is transformed into a vivid campus of interconnected learning houses. Through context-aware positioning, each building adapts to its surroundings—creating functional clusters. At the center: shared spaces that support movement, exchange, and a pedagogical landscape for growth, activity, and learning.

An open and evolving School Concept.

Within each building of the Joseph Lenne Primary School, a thoughtfully designed internal learning landscape is organized around learning clusters. These interior landscapes provide differentiated and versatile spaces for various educational activities, adapted to the needs of each age group and subject area.

A fluent Circulation connects the Interiors.

The spaces between buildings serve as vibrant courtyards—linking architecture, people, and landscape. They guide movement, encourage social exchange, and support informal learning. As connective zones, they bring cohesion to the campus and create a sense of openness, orientation, and community.

Sensitive Urban Integration.

The three learning volumes and the sports building form a connected and interactive scape. The negative spaces integrate social pockets for occasional meetings and activities, while keeping a clear structure for structure. The landscaping fluidly transitions to the center volume of the buidling that acts as a hub, integration the social functions. From the central connector, the learning buildings are accesible via a collective atrium in each volume. The base for all design is a vivid environemnt of exchange, fostering a culture of togetherness.

Space as a Third Teacher.

A central learning landscape unfolds between the buildings, linking all parts of the school and its users. On the ground floor, the cafeteria, auditorium, and special-use areas form the vibrant heart of the school. A spacious terrace connects all the building units and offers space for exchange and informal learning. The learning clusters, as central units, support both individual and collaborative learning processes and are closely connected with communal areas. These internal learning landscapes are interconnected by the overarching learning landscape between the buildings, creating a coherent and fluid spatial concept that promotes exchange and collaboration among the various school areas and user groups.

Modular by Design.

The school is built from prefabricated timber modules—each 2.7×8.1 m, crafted as complete spatial units. Based on a column-beam frame, these modules are factory-made and assembled on-site, enabling fast, low-impact construction and a flexible, sustainable school architecture rooted in circular principles.

Use of existing Buildings with Intelligent Phasing.

Construction unfolds in three phases—new buildings and entrances first, then selective demolition and reuse of materials for outdoor spaces. Finally, remaining structures are removed to create green courtyards and implement the Sponge City strategy. Learning continues throughout, with minimal disruption to the existing school. Special attention is given to the sustainability of the project. All trees removed during construction will be replaced with new plantings to maintain and enhance the green appearance of the school grounds. In addition, the demolition of the existing building is incorporated into the new landscape design, underscoring resource conservation and a respectful approach to the environment.