The Kantonsschule Reussbühl is situated on a knoll which is delimited to the north by the Roterwald woods and Kleine Emme river, to the south by the Ruopigen housing area. To the east it enjoys a pleasant view of Emmenbrücke. The situation is distinguished by spaciousness, nature and hills. The low, elongated new building references the traits of this location. It faces the existing main building from the 1970s, and together with this and the 1990s extension it frames an open space that serves as a versatile place for meeting, relaxing and learning and thus becomes the new centre of the cantonal school.
Various greening concepts structure the campus and create miscellaneous zones. The existing outside areas are complemented and seamlessly integrated into the densely landscaped open spaces. New plants and trees along the walkways mark the connections and improve shadowing. The enlarged biotope garden becomes a focal point and produces an image of untamed nature. On the eastern border, the new sports grounds make use of the flat topography and form a transition towards the residential district.
The design comprises the vision of a large building that unites all functions under one roof and fosters their mutual stimulation. The new building is arranged in three storeys which are spatially connected by an atrium. This provides access and serves as the building’s centre point. Through two opposing doorways on the long facades the building is entered. Multiple visual connections through the atrium into the upper storey, the lower gymnasium and the foyer of the multipurpose hall at ground level contribute to easy orientation within the building. On the upper level, the classrooms, group and preparation rooms along the facades envelop the access cores, patios and open working places. Collectively they create an extensive teaching and learning landscape. The underground level contains the gyms and changing rooms, as well as other functional rooms that receive natural light thanks to the sloping terrain.
The fire protection concept and the load-bearing structure of timber posts and beams, slender concrete ceilings and a central concrete core as well as accessible technical installations grant maximum flexibility in terms of spatial layout. On the outside, the volume is characterised by a concrete structure with circumferential protruding balconies placed in front of the generously glazed wooden facades. The building appears like a large pavilion in close relation to the scenery
