Euro-college

Narratives

Architect Narrative

1. Our philosophy
In our design-vision a school is more than just a collection of classrooms. A school gives expression to the sensitive process of teaching and learning, of being mature and becoming mature, with places where you can talk in an informal way, where you can meet or just where you can watch each other.
Learning is all about meeting. Meeting between a student and a teacher, between students mutually but also with the subject matter of teaching and picking up the experiences of everybody. A school is a place to accommodate these meetings.

2. Learning by doing
With accommodations for 1100 students, this school is the first in the Netherlands to be entirely devoted to the new teaching method of the ‘studiehuis’ (literally ‘study house’, a new system characterised by a shift from teaching to learning, with students playing a more active and independent role as individuals).
The new school - building had to translate the new theories of education - summarised in the denominator ‘learning by doing’ - into form and function. This was accomplished, amongst others, by creating dedicated volumes to accommodate each of the four main functions of the school. The design not only focuses on independent working, learning, co-operative learning, arts and manipulative skills, but also on meeting, equivalence, openness and security.

3. Face-lift to its surroundings
The school is situated on a characterless business park that can be identified at a great distance by the chimney, preserved from the former Sibema dairy plant. Industry, dwellings and the national highway A2 limit the site. Between the A2 and the school a hotel acts as a sound barrier. The urban integration of the school takes account of the industrial history of the site. This appears from the ‘saved’ chimney and also from the large steel entrance gate. The chimney stands next to the main entrance and functions as a beacon for the school. The use of a great variety of colours and materials prevents the school from looking as a learning plant. Furthermore, the integration of the school on this site gives a face-lift to its surroundings. The school gives the site character again.

4. The beating heart
The building has just one entrance for everybody, with glass doors, without threshold. Thus giving expression to the idea of equivalence, openness and accessibility for everybody.
The four main functions of the school are housed in as many distinguishable volumes around an atrium. With each of the principal functions in its own volume, these could be tailor-made in terms of dimensioning (e.g. storey height) and load-bearing structure. All ‘over-measure’ is concentrated in the central atrium, the physical centre of the building. This emphasises the multi-functional character of the atrium, which serves as entry zone, circulation space, sheltered school playground, festivity hall and auditorium. The atrium makes the school well ordered. It’s the beating heart with the rhythm of the school-bell.

5. Volumes with character
Each of the four functions of the school is given a specific name. Classrooms and laboratories are accommodated in two elongated wings, the ‘arch’ and the ‘prism’ respectively. The technical character of the laboratories is emphasised by making use of zinc as dominating material in the ‘prism’. The ‘arch’ is made of wood, which nicely connects with the adjacent gardens.
The ‘studiehuis’ occupies an oviform volume tucked under the labs wing where every table is provided with daylight. Because the ‘studiehuis’, made of purple bricks, is the most important function in the building it is situated next to the atrium.
A compact volume at the head of the two wings houses all ancillary functions, including a large sports hall. On top of this hall the school playing field is located. The unusual location proceeds from a lack of space at the site and also from the multifunctional character; it’s a space for parties, playground and a viewpoint to the city.
The colours of the materials of the ‘arch’, ‘prism’ and the ‘studiehuis’ are a bit reserved. The sports hall’s red roof-tiles form a big contrast with the other three volumes.

6. ‘Easy to read’
The design of the school can be seen as a collage of different volumes with different materials, which accommodate different meetings. The school is a meeting place for people and materials. It’s well balanced and well ordered. It’s a building that’s easy to read from the inside as well as from the outside. It’s a place of great harmony.