German School Madrid by Grüntuch Ernst Architekten

Photographer: Celia de Coca

The German School in Madrid, founded in 1896, is among the oldest and, with 1,800 students, one of the largest German international schools, and it is a central place of cultural exchange in the city. At its new location in the north of Madrid, different usages have been designated to separate structures, which merge together into one ensemble under the perforated roof construction of the foyer spaces.

The three main buildings – a kindergarten, a primary school and a secondary school – each surround their own interior courtyard and look out onto the snow-capped peaks of the Sierras. The geometricated landscape of stairs, ramps and steps follows the topography of the land and, with the lively interplay of light and shadow from the roofs and facades, creates distinct spatial environments.

Client: Federal Republic of Germany, represented by the BMUB, represented by the BBR (Project Director Gunter Machens) and Association Deutsche Schule Madrid – Project Management: Bureau Veritas Construction Services (Project Director Christian Gerlach)

Design team:

Grüntuch Ernst Architekten

Photographer: Celia de Coca