Elementary School Courtyard Redesign

Atrium schools, a distinctive type of school building common in Germany from the 1960s to the 1990s, are characterised by their light-filled inner courtyards—spaces that often remain unused, despite offering great potential for learning, play, and community. Historically, these schools were developed by interdisciplinary teams comprising architects, educators, researchers, and even local residents. Yet one key group was scarcely involved at the time: the children themselves.

Project Objective

This is precisely where our project comes in: We want to bring the children’s voices into the design process and make their needs, wishes, and ideas for the school playground at Johanna Primary School visible. Thanks to funding already secured for the redesign of individual areas, this project aims to ensure that the perspective of the main users—the pupils—remains at the centre.

Methodology: Workshop as a Participatory Design Process

In a child-friendly workshop, the pupils will have the opportunity to reimagine their school playground. The focus is not on perfect, fully developed models, but on:

• Learning design principles through play: The children will gain age-appropriate insights into design, craftsmanship, and spatial planning.

• Creative freedom: They design their own models and sketches.