Ingeborg-Ortner-Children´s Home, Garching

The site of the Ingeborg-Ortner-Children’s Home works around the urban planning of the original road layout.  In order to create a cocoon for the children using the building, the whole structure is pivoted to create an enclosed courtyard and multiple concealed and secure play-zones. The open, and welcoming, entrance faces towards the main road, greeting the families who use the facilities. Inside there is a central foyer which houses the senior management department, the kitchens and multipurpose hall. The large internal entrance hall is opened up and exposed along its western side. The flat green roof of the building blends in with the surround green spaces. Inside the building the colours of the natural building material are dominant, and where needed an additional palate of accent colours have been added to create ambience and differentiation between areas.

»The result is high quality architectural work, the basis of which is the understanding of materials and design.«

Holzbaupreis Bayern 2010

The main structural elements of the ground-floor are glue laminated timber walls and beamed ceilings. These are open timber beams with dimensions of 40/240 mm, which are spaces apart at 250 mm intervals. They form the support for the roof structure, contribute significantly to the architectural design and create exceptional acoustics. The ceilings of the spacious entrance foyer, the corridors and the functional areas are built, like the walls, in cross-laminated timber. As a special design feature, all wall and ceiling timber surfaces are visible.