Dreams of colorful chalk drawings dance on the pavement outside Schule Mendelssohnstraße. This isn’t just any primary school. Schule Mendelssohnstraße is a testament to Hamburg’s post-war architectural ingenuity.
Founded in 1949, Schule Mendelssohnstraße initially held classes in temporary spaces. Imagine children learning in makeshift classrooms. The school’s permanent buildings began rising in 1953. The first section opened in 1954. More buildings followed, including a gymnasium in 1956. By 1957, twenty classrooms stood ready along with administrative offices. The construction continued. A dedicated assembly hall appeared in 1962 and a swimming pool in 1965. The official completion was celebrated in 1965.
Paul Seitz, commissioned by the Hamburg Building Authority, designed the school. His vision featured a series of interconnected pavilions. These buildings, mostly one or two stories high, connect via open walkways. The layout included classrooms, a hall, and a single-field sports hall. The school even boasted a small indoor pool. The design prioritized open space and a connection with nature.
Schule Mendelssohnstraße pioneered serial construction techniques. This approach streamlined the building process. It became a model for subsequent school construction in Hamburg.
The school’s grounds cover approximately 28,000 square meters. The address is Mendelssohnstraße 86. The school is bordered by Friedensallee, Von-Sauer-Straße, and Bahrenfelder Kirchenweg.
In 1961, Werner Michaelis’ sculpture “Bronze Leaves Tree” found its home in the school garden as part of an art program.
Initially a Volksschule and later a Grund- und Hauptschule, Schule Mendelssohnstraße transitioned to a primary school by 1989. A 2019 plan identified the school as four-track, meaning sixteen classes. The goal is to expand to twenty classes. An architectural competition was held in 2019 for an extension. Plans include demolishing the break hall and adding about 1,236 square meters.
The contemporary press initially criticized the prefabricated pavilions, but the Schule Mendelssohnstraße was praised. It was described as a new kind of school “very beautiful, very careful and modern, according to international guidelines” and “like dabbed in a very spacious park”. In 1956, Senator Wenke, Senior School Councilor Dressel, and Building Director Seitz used the school to present Hamburg’s second three-year plan for school construction.
The school’s swimming pool was operated by the Hamburger Turnerbund until 2008. In 2009, the pool and property were transferred to the Hamburger Sportbund. A renovation was needed to address high operating costs. In 2012 and 2013, an area of 371 square meters was converted for all-day education. The gymnasium was renovated in 2015.
Today, Schule Mendelssohnstraße stands as a protected monument. Its architecture and artistic elements are preserved. This school is more than brick and mortar. It is a living piece of Hamburg’s history. It reflects the city’s commitment to education.