SL 82 folding glass door Multi-purpose hall and open-air stage in one

As part of a competition to unite three local schools to form a single, cam-pus-style educational institution, a new schoolhouse for music and art was deve-loped in Lörrach, Germany. The urban planning layout was to be redesigned to create a homogeneous, cohesive and consistent ensemble.

The horizontal ground plan means that every function has its own dedicated area. Two towers, which are home to the art and music rooms, are con-nected on the ground floor by a two-storey multi-purpose hall. The upper floor of the multi-purpose hall acts as a bridge with a connecting corridor and staff liaison office. The roof terrace can also be used for outdoor les-sons in fine weather.

Façade openings to mirror the landscape

The interior extends seemingly without limit onto the outdoor area of the courtyard and nearby park. In order to satisfy the special demands in terms of the transparency and energy efficiency of the glass façade, which covers almost the entire width of this connecting structure, the architects chose the folding glass doors from Solarlux, the leading system developer and manufacturer. The SL 82 folding glass doors were used which enable the south-facing façade to be opened up flexibly over almost 16 metres, without the need for pillars. “No other manufacturer was able to offer us this planning freedom over such an opening width,” explained the architects.

Thanks to the installation depth of just 80 mm and the filigree section frames of the panel edges, even when closed the SL 82 folding glass doors are barely noticed as a limitation. The glazing is characterised by its all-over all-glass look on the exterior which is achieved using stepped-edge glazing that covers the section, another argument which helped to win over the architects. The stable hollow chamber sections made of aluminium together with the glazing ensure state-of-the-art thermal performance.

Huge variety of uses thanks to flexible glazing

The aesthetics and diversity of the new schoolhouse earned this project the “best architects 14” award in the “Public buildings” category. The SL 82 folding glass door from Solarlux, which was been awarded two design prizes, plays a key role in underscoring the building’s air of lightness and elegance. The architects are convinced: “Flexible glazing over such a width could only be achieved through the innovative cooperation with Solarlux. Solarlux showed itself to be a reliable and competent partner dur-ing all the planning phases”.