A focus on community

Dybbøl boarding school near Sønderborg, Denmark has undergone a remarkable extension and renovation with a new dining hall that whets the appetite for the residential school's community life. With a focus on providing a sense of calm, the hall is designed to be spacious.

The prerequisites for a safe and positive school experience among the students at Dybbøl boarding school include a physical environment that limits audio-visual noise. The residential school is for young people with special learning requirements, both physical and psychological, which is why it is of particular importance to create an inclusive environment.

The new building was constructed as an extension to an existing red brick building that now houses the kitchen facilities. The new building opens towards the school’s main building and makes room for an old tree that acts as a natural meeting place on school grounds.

In addition to the dining hall that seats all 88 students (or a total of 104 people), there is a beautiful lecture theatre, which is also suitable for singing and music. By the entrance is a lounge area where students can wait for assembly and mealtimes.

Ceilings with consideration

To accommodate the students’ different challenges, the dining hall is set up so that all tables are placed by the windows where the ceilings are lowest. This provides peace of mind for both ears and eyes. The room has a vaulted ceiling and a special design that reflects the building's complex exterior.

The large ceiling surface unifies the space and creates a sense of community, while the room is partly divided by plants in large plywood containers. In this way, the hall emphasises the greater community, while the individual student thrives in the space.

For proper and effective acoustics combined with visual calm, the ceiling is a combination of black Troldtekt with wooden strips mounted on top as a customer solution. The shape of the ceiling is accentuated by skylights and recessed light fixtures.

Wood is also a common material in both the dining room and lecture theatre, with plywood on the walls and built-in furniture. The warm wood and daylight from multiple angles provide the space with a cosy atmosphere.