zonnehof, Duivendrecht

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This design brings together two schools under one roof without compromising their individual identities. Each school has a separate entrance with its own playground. Within the more generic structure of the building, the internal organization of each school has been customized. As a result, two entirely different spatial settings co-exist inside the building.

The building is in dialogue with its lush natural surroundings and resembles a differentiated and distinctive sculpture.

The individual character of each school is expressed in the three-dimensional form of the building, and the choice of exterior materials plays with this idea

De Grote Beer primary school is organized into a number of educational clusters grouped around separate learning plazas, while the A. Bekema School has compact classrooms or ‘base camps’ arranged around large central learning plazas. Atriums in both schools connect the various levels and help people orientate themselves. The two classrooms on the top floor of the building can be used not only for arts and crafts, but also as extra classrooms for other subjects. Various types of skylights draw daylight into the heart of the schools. In combination with restrained materials and colours choices, this contributes to a bright, clear learning environment.

The playgrounds are surrounded by lush hedges containing various types of vegetation. The domains of the two schools open out onto the green play areas and the adjacent natural playground. The plants and shrubs now present will be thoroughly pruned to ensure that the schoolyards receive plenty of sunlight and remain a safe social environment. The green moss-and-sedum roof helps the building to blend into its natural setting, both from close by and when viewed from the surrounding high-rises.

The building engages in dialogue with its lush natural surroundings and resembles a differentiated and distinctive sculpture. The individual character of each school is expressed in the three-dimensional form of the building, and the choice of exterior materials plays with this idea. Expanses of light and dark brickwork alternate on the facades. Entrances are accentuated with brightly coloured materials. The aluminium facade sections look like the eyes of the building: open, outward-looking and transparent. But they also draw the outside world into the interior of the school.

Project Details
  • Site
  • Duivendrecht, The Netherlands
  • Client
  • ASKO & Stichting OOP
  • Design
  • 2012
  • Realisation
  • 2015
  • Size
  • 3.200 m2
  • Program
  • Education
  • Assignment
  • Tender | 1st prize
  • Team
  • Jeroen Schipper, Theo Kupers, Danai Gkoni, Arthur Stolk, Paul Voorbergen, Perry Klootwijk
  • Collaboration
  • Theo Kupers Architecten
  • Advisors
  • Van Rossum, De Blaay-Van den Bogaard, Peutz, ABC Nova
  • Contractor
  • Klaassen Groep
  • Costs
  • 3.400.000 euro
  • Photography
  • Roos Aldershoff
Publications
Architectenweb
De Architect
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