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High degree of walking and standing comfort
At the Sonnwendviertel Learning Campus, the boundaries between individual educational areas are meant to blur. The instructors rely on individual support and focus on free learning instead of teachercentred teaching. Changing groups of children, some of different ages, complete tasks and work on projects together. “The basic organisational elements of the building are the so-called clusters, units consisting of four classes each along with a project room and a team room for the teachers”, explains Podushka. The heart of the campus is the ‘market places’ with adjustable furniture which all of the children in a cluster can use together.
“The flooring plays a major role in the building concept”, the architect goes on to explain. It isn’t only the kindergarten kids who play on the floor, because the older pupils often sit on the floor and use it as a work surface to learn, write and paint. “That’s why we decided to install under-floor heating and select a flooring material with great ergonomic comfort”. The “Made in Germany” rubber flooring, which PPAG architects had already used in various other projects, has a number of advantages in this respect. It’s both the best suited for installation on top of under-floor heating and warm on the feet itself. Not only that but its long-term resilience takes some of the burden off the back and joints, making it easier to move and stand. This is helpful for teachers’ long-term health and ensures greater security, too: if children stumble and fall down, they won’t hurt themselves on the soft nora floors. In addition, the rubber floors lessen sound echoes and thereby contribute to better acoustics in the building.
Low-emission, safe and economical for upkeep
The interior air quality is also important for a healthy learning environment. “The city of Vienna has very strict environmental standards which every construction material used in learning campuses has to fulfil”, reports Poduschka. Through the “ÖkoKauf Wien” initiative, the city ensures that all of the products it procures are environmentally friendly and sustainable. Reduced packaging, phosphate- and formaldehyde-free products, no PVC, no chlorine bleach, no aggressive cleansers, no tropical wood – these are only a few of the demands made on environmentally friendly procurement. The nora rubber floorings were a perfect fit for the concept. They are low-emission certified by internationally renowned environmental institutions and contribute to a much healthier indoor climate. Another critical factor was the fire safety qualities of nora floors; clued they comply with the strict fire safety category Bfl-S1. In addition, because of their extremely dense surfaces, rubber floors are especially resistant to wear and tear and do not need any sealants, so they are easy and economical to clean and continue to look good for decades. “The low cost of maintenance and the low life cycle costs of the nora floors were equally important to us in our decision taking”, the architect emphasises.
Award-winning design
Last but not least, the noraplan unita laid in the learning campus impressed the architects with its extraordinary appearance. The granite particles sprinkled in the matte rubber reflect light in all its facets, creating ever-changing effects on the floor depending upon the angle of incidence and the location of the viewer. The “red dot design award 2012” and the “Good Design Award 2012” were both granted to nora systems for this remarkable product design.
After working there for eighteen months, the teachers and pupils are very pleased with the ambiance and the construction materials used. Compatibility, value for money, comfort and design: nora floorings offer full service around the world, not just at the Sonnwendviertel Learning Campus.
