Located in the lively Hamburg district of Eimsbüttel, the School at Isebek is an elementary school that is growing. To meet its increasing space requirements, the school expanded onto a neighboring site just around the corner. A compact new building replaces a 1970s-era structure and complements an existing 1927 schoolhouse with a new gymnasium, canteen, and classrooms for two grade levels.
Positioned at the southeast corner of the site, directly adjacent to the listed historic building by Fritz Schumacher, the new volume shifts the schoolyard to the quieter side of the plot – shielding it from the nearby U-Bahn line and a busy arterial road.
At the heart of the compact new structure lies an unexpected feature: an interior recreation hall spanning the second and third floors. Its polygonal shape and generous skylights create a lively, light-filled central space that serves not only as a place to play, but also offers breakout zones for informal learning and quiet retreat outside the classrooms.
The gymnasium and canteen are housed in the lower two levels of the building. Both areas are accessible via dedicated entrances, allowing the gym to be used independently for after-hours or extracurricular activities. Above them, teaching and specialist rooms accommodate two full year groups.
The heritage-listed building designed by Fritz Schumacher now houses the school’s administrative functions. Built in 1927 as a support school, the structure and its facade were carefully restored. Beneath layers of paint applied over the past century, restorers uncovered the original color palette from the 1920s. These tones were reinstated throughout the stairwell during renovation. A striking vertical ribbon window along the courtyard side was also faithfully reconstructed by Trapez Architektur based on Schumacher’s original plans.
Photo Credts: Meike Hansen, archimage
