Sculptures in the Park

In Vienna’s Gersthof district, we not only transformed the monument-listed hospital into a school, there are also two new gymnasiums with timber frame constructions. The freestanding structures with black glazed wood-slat facades sit like sculptures under the old red beeches in the charming school park, complementing the existing pavilions on the educational campus with a contemporary architectural vocabulary.

Under the Red Beeches

As the entire estate has a listed status, the trees in the park, including 100-year-old red beeches, also had to be preserved. It was not possible to connect the gyms directly to the main building, so we positioned them in a secluded part of the extensive grounds. The applicable zoning regulations set strict limits for the building volumes. Therefore, the two structures have different heights, are partially embedded in the ground, and are only connected underground.

Diverse Sport Activities 

The gymnasiums not only differ in dimensions: one hall is designed as a full-fledged standard gymnasium, whereas the second serves as an exercise hall for alternative sports activities, equipped with a bouldering wall and a mirror wall.