The tender for the conversion and repurposing of the vacant building was awarded to Lübeck-based firm ppp in collaboration with caspar. We played a key role in conceptual development, defining the building’s programmatic use, and communicating the project vision.
With a gross floor area of approximately 9,500 m², the Bildungshaus is set to open in 2028. The project integrates forward-thinking strategies for adaptive reuse, context-sensitive urban design, school and cultural architecture, sustainable mobility, inner-city transformation, public life, and urban repair.
According to the city’s press release:
“With this preliminary design, we are laying the foundation for a vibrant place of learning and exchange in the heart of Lübeck – a space where people of all generations can come together, develop ideas, and learn from one other,” emphasizes Mayor Jan Lindenau. “At the same time, the project is an important catalyst for urban development. The current interim use as ÜBERGANGSHAUS and the planned transformation into the Bildungshaus illustrate how vacant buildings can be reactivated in meaningful ways. This building will not only become a symbol of change but also a driver of Lübeck’s sustainable city center revitalization.” Building Senator Joanna Hagen highlights the Bildungshaus as a model for urban transformation: “Particularly in our UNESCO-protected Old Town, it is essential to develop future-oriented concepts for existing buildings that integrate well into the historic cityscape. This preliminary design demonstrates how sustainable urban development can succeed. The Bildungshaus will breathe new life into the city center, create new opportunities for use, and provide key impulses for the city of tomorrow.”
This Bildungshaus will provide much-needed additional learning spaces for Lübeck’s four historic grammar schools – the Johanneum, Katharineum, Ernestinenschule, and Oberschule zum Dom. The growing demand for more flexible, modern school spaces is not unique to Lübeck but a nationwide issue. In September 2024, Süddeutsche Zeitung ran the headline “The Country Needs New Schools,” asking: “How do you create schools with more space when space is such a contested resource in so many cities?”
One solution is to rethink the relationship between urban and school space, as the Bildungshaus does. This extends to university spaces as well, with additional users including Lübeck University of Music, the University of Lübeck, Technische Hochschule Lübeck, and Offene Kanal Lübeck. Beyond its educational functions, the Bildungshaus will also provide diverse spaces for cultural and public events, engaging the entire urban community.
At the heart of the redesign is a central atrium that spans all floors, bringing in daylight and natural ventilation. Around this core, the five upper floors will accommodate the schools’ learning spaces, shielded from the city’s bustle. In contrast, the ground floor will open fully to the public, and together with the basement, will serve as a multifunctional event space with a café, stage, and tiered seating. The basement – or more precisely, the existing substructure – will feature a bicycle parking garage with an impressive 400 spaces. These are not just for students but for all Lübeckers: the Bildungshaus is also conceived as a house of sustainable mobility, encouraging a shift away from car dependence.
The roof transformation is another key architectural focus. Like the entire project, it addresses fundamental needs in city center repair and urban renewal. A two-story prefabricated timber structure will replace the former technical facilities, its rust-red color scheme blending harmoniously with the historic fabric. Urban context is always a critical factor, but rarely more so than in a World Heritage-listed Old Town. At the same time, public recreational and open spaces are more important than ever. The Bildungshaus will offer a generous 614 square meters of rooftop terrace space, giving Lübeck residents a unique view over the Old Town. For students, it will serve as an entirely new kind of schoolyard. We look forward to the encounters this new space will inspire.
Contracting authority: GMHL (Building Management of the Hanseatic City of Lübeck)
Visualization: © ppp/caspar./Paul Trakies
