Learning thrives not only inside classrooms but also in the spaces that surround them. Outdoor areas at kindergartens, schools, and university campuses benefit from thoughtfully designed pathways, tactile guidance, and accessible surfaces. belgrano® natural stone provides a durable and natural foundation that supports both functionality and aesthetic quality.
Many school and kindergarten projects today reach their limits during new construction or renovation. Overlapping regulations, conflicting requirements, and tight planning schedules put architects and planners under pressure. The result is often buildings that leave little room for flexible play areas, outdoor learning zones, or multifunctional spaces for breaks and physical activity.
Outdoor spaces play a crucial role, providing children and students with room to run, climb, or collaborate on projects in the open air. Daylight, fresh air, and a natural environment enhance concentration and reduce stress, while varied movement opportunities stimulate both physical and cognitive development.
Federal Sustainable Building Systems, such as the German BNB, provide a solid framework for these requirements. They define criteria for educational buildings and outdoor areas that cover ecological, economic, and functional aspects, ranging from durability and reusability to low maintenance and accessibility.
BESCO offers solutions that meet these demanding criteria. belgrano® natural stone combines tested slip resistance, accessibility, and high weather resilience with timeless aesthetics and flexible design options. Paths can be structured visually, while tactile guidance systems provide orientation for the visually impaired.
belgrano® natural stone merges durability with functionality and design. It provides environmental benefits through long service life and reusability and offers economic advantages via minimal maintenance and long-term value retention. Its functional performance ensures slip-resistant, accessible surfaces with integrated tactile guidance systems, setting new standards for the design of outdoor spaces.
The modularly constructed kindergarten “Zu den Fichtewiesen” accommodates up to 136 children. While wooden modules provide flexible interior spaces, natural stone ensures long-lasting orientation and safety outdoors. Paving and curbs guide movement, while tactile guidance systems enhance accessibility and wayfinding.
A color-accented, shelf-like steel structure complements the predominantly wooden architecture. belgrano® paving, seating, and guidance elements integrate seamlessly into the naturalistic concept, highlighting both architectural quality and construction precision.
belgrano® natural stone at the University of Kassel and the “Zu den Fichtewiesen” daycare center in Berlin Spandau
At the university level, natural stone contributes to functional learning environments. Along Moritzstraße, a campus area was developed to connect the northern and southern sections. Designed by k1 Landschaftsarchitekten the layout encourages mutual consideration among pedestrians, cyclists, and motorized traffic. Natural stone paving organizes circulation while clearly defining seating and gathering areas. The design conveys calm and clarity while enduring the heavy daily use of a university campus.
belgrano® natural stone was used in a variety of sizes, finishes, and forms, shaping the campus topography while providing durability and sustainable sourcing.
The approximately 50,000-square-meter campus is one of the largest educational facilities in the region, accommodating up to 1,500 students daily. Climate-neutral belgrano® paving, slabs, and seating elements, designed by Rainer Schmidt Landschaftsarchitekten, create a “Boulevard of Possibilities” framed by greenery.
Students can engage in play and sports, or retreat to quieter zones depending on age group. Installed light features animate the space in the evening, while underground drainage systems maintain long-term usability.
Natural stone opens up a wide range of design possibilities in outdoor educational spaces. Seating blocks, stepped platforms, or small terraces create flexible zones for collaborative work, informal gatherings, or individual reflection. Varying heights, forms, and finishes define movement areas, subtly guide circulation, and encourage interaction. Natural stone can also enhance climbing and bouldering features, while raised beds and school gardens become practical outdoor learning areas when framed in stone.
Water features, fountains, or decorative planters can be harmoniously integrated, structuring open spaces while fostering a sense of ownership among users. Combining functionality, durability, and aesthetics results in outdoor spaces that are vibrant, safe, and versatile.
Natural stone is equally effective inside educational buildings. Staircases, platforms, or raised areas become robust yet elegant surfaces supporting daily routines, presentations, or group projects. Seating elements, reading corners, and multifunctional learning islands provide settings for focused work or creative collaboration.
Carefully treated stone surfaces create tactile guidance systems that aid intuitive navigation indoors and outdoors. Textures, grooves, and subtle profiles provide orientation cues and help define pathways or zoned areas. Contrasting smooth and rough surfaces can separate active and quiet spaces without additional materials. In this way, natural stone becomes an integral element, combining safety, accessibility, and clear spatial comprehension with aesthetic appeal.
From kindergartens to school campuses and universities, belgrano® natural stone creates environments that foster community, provide safety and orientation, and above all offer young people the space to grow, explore, and thrive.
Planning an educational project? We are happy to advise on material selection, finishes, and implementation. Contact us anytime via our contact form or send an email to mail@besco-gmbh.de. We will respond promptly.
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