ContinentaleHonig .
A school with a garden terrace

location:  Zuoz, Switzerlandyear:   2024program:Primary school, Kindergartenstatus:Open competition, finalistscollaborations:studio Tenet
Bimo Imbalo Rahmatullah
Anna Drechsler

The new school in Zuoz finds its place at the edge of the site, freeing up a generous green foregarden that unfolds in front of it. Embraced by the two volumes, this open space mirrors the attitude of the historical school nearby, which frames a plaza at the heart of the village. Here, nature and built form come together to create a welcoming, open environment where children can learn, play, and explore.

A stepped garden gently bridges the different levels of the site, inviting movement through a sequence of exterior galleries and staircases. These pathways are both practical and playful, encouraging children to move freely between spaces while subtly integrating the terrain’s natural slopes. Alongside them, open galleries stretch towards the mountain view, offering quiet places to pause, observe, and take in the landscape. These in-between spaces are not just circulation routes—they become places to linger, where children and the community alike can find a moment of stillness in the rhythm of the day.

The materiality is simple and robust, balancing warmth and durability. Large openings of the Kindergarten blur the boundary between inside and outside, extending the learning environment into the garden. With its compact and thoughtful design, the new school is both a natural continuation of Zuoz’s built heritage and a fresh, contemporary space for education and play.