Oberstufenschulhaus, Secondary school building in Paspels, Switzerland.
The Oberstufenschulhaus in Paspels is a school building with two concrete sections whose classrooms sit in the corners and face different directions. The structure connects to an older school facility through an underground passage, allowing protected movement between the buildings.
The building was constructed in 1998 following a design competition, with architect Valerio Olgiati bringing an innovative concept to life. This project emerged from the need to expand local school capacity and provide contemporary learning spaces.
The building uses local larch wood from the region in its interior spaces, connecting it to traditional building methods of the Graubunden area. This choice of material shows how the design respects the character of the surrounding mountain landscape.
The building has large windows and clear spatial layout that make it easy to understand its design from outside. Visitors should note that this is an active school facility, so visiting outside school hours is recommended.
The upper floor rotates 90 degrees relative to the ground floor, creating an unexpected twist in the building's layout. This spatial offset produces surprising sight lines and makes the structure feel geometrically unconventional.
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