Modern school buildings

Setting an example: architectural and tile ceramics in modern school construction

Whether daycare centers, elementary and secondary schools, or universities: The international education landscape is rebuilding. Educational buildings all over the world have to adapt to new pedagogical requirements and support contemporary forms of learning and teaching. Modern educational concepts respond to the fact that learning works differently for every child. Schools are therefore evolving from places of instruction to places of learning and living that convey a basic understanding of community, social responsibility, sustainability and aesthetics. Architects are therefore called upon to design open and flexible spaces and large collaborative areas that are enjoyable, contribute to well-being, and inspire learning. Strong partners of successful school projects are and will remain materials and surfaces that are robust, durable and harmless to health: ceramic tiles.

Architecture is always also a role model - as a building, but also as an expression of an attitude that focuses on people more than anything else. Hardly any other type of building has as much social responsibility as educational construction, which literally almost all members of society go through across all types and forms of schools. There is still a great need to catch up and invest in the German educational landscape. On the one hand, this is why new school and university buildings are constantly being built, primarily in the major cities. On the other hand, countless aging existing buildings no longer meet energy and ecological standards. The rooms lack quality of stay and promote communication among the students.

The choice of suitable building materials is therefore essential in educational buildings. Finally, not least due to the high number of users and intensive use in limited periods of time, e.g. during breaks, very high loads occur. One of the main reasons for the clearly discernible trend towards ceramic materials is that they are extremely versatile while being highly robust. Ceramic tiles can be used as floor or wall coverings in foyers, corridors, refectories, kitchens and specialist classrooms as well as in toilets, showers, changing rooms and school swimming pools.

Many different tile sizes, colors and surfaces are possible, which can be individually adapted to the projects if required. Whether in large format or with mosaics, ceramic tiles, which can be easily combined in modular series, create sensual spaces perfectly matched to the overall architectural concept and the desired psychological color effect. Different slip-resistance classes with the same appearance also enable visually uniform floor design in areas with different hygiene and safety requirements, e.g. between classrooms, corridors and sanitary facilities.

Ceramics in the facade

Facade ceramics can be used in tubular or angular form, as a tile or as a custom molded part, and can appear in a wide variety of colors and surface textures - as ventilated facade constructions as well as permanently bonded, e.g. as the top layer of a composite thermal insulation system (ETICS). Ceramics are colorfast and lightfast and can potentially be used anywhere in and on the building. The material facilitates the embedding of buildings in the urban environment; it enables precise and subtle transitions between inside and outside. This is one of the reasons why ceramic components are particularly suitable for holistic architectural concepts, which educators refer to as the "third teacher,"
since they support cooperative learning methods spatially, colorfully, sensually.

Re-use + Renovation + Recycling = Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile goes with everything. The mineral base material is almost completely processed in production, can be reused as a recycled material in new forms and applications, and is naturally degradable as a system for ventilated facades. Made from natural clay, ceramic elements always offer an ecologically compatible solution that is also economical in terms of longevity.

Old buildings whose (building) technical systems, escape routes and interior fittings no longer comply with today's state of the art and legislation, can be built around every corner and curve with ceramic tiles. Facades that are inadequate in terms of building physics, outdated and unhygienic sanitary facilities, and worn wall and floor coverings all benefit from the color and design diversity of ceramic tiles, which also competently incorporate attached cafeterias, multifunctional auditoriums, gymnasiums, and swimming pools into the overall concept of future-proof learning worlds. Unlike other materials such as vinyl or fiber cement, the versatile "school material" is acid-resistant and always retains its color intensity and luminosity even after cleaning with harsh cleaning agents.