Maria Montessori School in Stuttgart

Blue facade in the image of primary school age

The Maria Montessori School in Hausen, Stuttgart, was built in 1996 as a two-form entry primary school. A switch to all-day teaching in 2016 meant that the two-storey building had to be extended to create more space.

It was impossible to infer a colour concept from the facade of the existing building. The ultramarine blue window frames were in stark contrast to the white rendered facade and the light grey external Venetian blinds did not match the warm white shade of the external render.

Maria Montessori defined four different planes of development in her educational philosophy, which she divided into alternate red and blue phases. The primary school years between the ages of 6 and 12 are considered to be a calmer, creative blue phase. This was used as a design approach for the extension and refurbishment of the existing structure, in order to anchor the building in this part of the city as a single entity which creates a distinct identity.

By matching the window frames and the colour of the external render, the architects were able to create a uniform monochrome overall appearance for the school. The powerful blue colour shade is intense and vivid yet calm and profound like the paintings of Yves Klein.

A warm beige contrasts the entrance areas and window openings. The colour shade makes the blue more intense while also leading into a neutral, bright interior.