From the post-war period onwards school buildings constituted a great training ground for the formation, practice and comparison of Swiss architecture. Since the end of the 1950s, after the achievement of square classrooms, bilateral lighting, cross ventilation and movable furniture, one of the main points of discussion was the integration between school and leisure time: pedagogues, sociologists and architects militated all in favour of the principle of school as an open house. The use of school premises by the community at large, for sports events, meetings, theatre, hobbies – already frequent in rural localities and in other countries – involved social, economical and pedagogical issues. The reduction of working hours and the consequent extension of free time increased the need of community centres, which were considered one of the best ways to prevent the dual peril of modern urban society: the isolation of individuals or their annihilation in the anonymous mass. Due to the lack of space in the cities and to the increase of land prices, the creation of leisure facilities for different age ranges was not possible. Starting from these premises the foundation Pro Juventute, together with the municipality of Zurich, created the concept of a ‘Recreation Centre for People of All Ages’. Beyond some independent community centres, the idea of recreation facilities integrated in schools began to catch on. The school building, while retaining its proper functions, could offer ample premises for community purposes and could thus become the school not only of the child but also of the whole man. Architectural form and urban location of the school conceived as a living and active neighbourhood centre should be rethought in new ways. Supplementary recreation facilities had not to encroach on school functions and vice versa. Aim of the present paper is to explain how the idea of an open school influenced during the 1950s and the 1960s the design of school buildings and to show how leisure activities and consequently recreation centres are conceived mainly as pedagogical issues.

Die Schule als offenes Haus. School Building and Leisure Time in Switzerland in 1950s and 1960s / DI NALLO, Marco. - STAMPA. - (2012), pp. 154-177. (Intervento presentato al convegno Architecture for Leisure in Post-war Europe, 1945-1989 tenutosi a Katholieke Universiteit Leuven nel 16-18 febbraio 2012).

Die Schule als offenes Haus. School Building and Leisure Time in Switzerland in 1950s and 1960s

DI NALLO, MARCO
2012

Abstract

From the post-war period onwards school buildings constituted a great training ground for the formation, practice and comparison of Swiss architecture. Since the end of the 1950s, after the achievement of square classrooms, bilateral lighting, cross ventilation and movable furniture, one of the main points of discussion was the integration between school and leisure time: pedagogues, sociologists and architects militated all in favour of the principle of school as an open house. The use of school premises by the community at large, for sports events, meetings, theatre, hobbies – already frequent in rural localities and in other countries – involved social, economical and pedagogical issues. The reduction of working hours and the consequent extension of free time increased the need of community centres, which were considered one of the best ways to prevent the dual peril of modern urban society: the isolation of individuals or their annihilation in the anonymous mass. Due to the lack of space in the cities and to the increase of land prices, the creation of leisure facilities for different age ranges was not possible. Starting from these premises the foundation Pro Juventute, together with the municipality of Zurich, created the concept of a ‘Recreation Centre for People of All Ages’. Beyond some independent community centres, the idea of recreation facilities integrated in schools began to catch on. The school building, while retaining its proper functions, could offer ample premises for community purposes and could thus become the school not only of the child but also of the whole man. Architectural form and urban location of the school conceived as a living and active neighbourhood centre should be rethought in new ways. Supplementary recreation facilities had not to encroach on school functions and vice versa. Aim of the present paper is to explain how the idea of an open school influenced during the 1950s and the 1960s the design of school buildings and to show how leisure activities and consequently recreation centres are conceived mainly as pedagogical issues.
2012
9789460184666
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11583/2495580
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