Modular W extension building for Talhof school

In collaboration with the architecture partner Bauart Architekten und Planer AG, Blumer Lehmann won the general contractor competition run by the city of Winterthur with its proposal for second-generation Modular W school buildings. Following on from Langwiesen school, Talhof school also received a Modular W extension for the 2023/2024 school year – thereby quickly creating more space for the steadily increasing number of pupils.

For several years now, the city of Winterthur has been addressing the shortage of school space with the Modular W programme. The second generation of these versatile modular school buildings is now in use. Blumer Lehmann planned and built the modular extension building for Talhof school. The two-storey modular timber construction complements the existing facility without requiring any significant alterations to the outdoor area. At the Blumer Lehmann factory in Gossau, the timber modules were prefabricated and extensively fitted with electrical and technical systems, along with many interior design elements. The basic modules measure 7.2 m x 3.6 m. This ratio of two to one allows the modules to be arranged flexibly – up to three storeys high. On Talhofweg, the modules together form a two-storey building with two classrooms and three group rooms. With its pre-greyed facade, the extension building blends seamlessly into the existing school complex. Inside, colourful elements provide orientation and create openness.

An effective low-tech ventilation system uses the corridor as an air duct. The building meets the Minergie-P-Eco standard. A heat pump and photovoltaic panels supply electricity for heating, cooling and ventilation.