School extension in Antwerp, Belgium by Areal architecten

Article source: Areal architecten 

Like the existing school (a modernist volume from the 50’s) embraces the main playground, the extension is positioned in a way that areas of security arise in its inner corners. The new volume integrates the pragmatic logic of the school campus, but not without creating some witty and special interventions adding functional value.

Image Courtesy © Thomas De Bruyne

• Architects: Areal architecten
• Project: School extension
• Location: Antwerp, Belgium
• Photography: Thomas De Bruyne and Areal architecten
• Client: Gemeenschapsonderwijs GO! van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap
• Competition design: september 2009
• Construction: october 2012
• Building cost: 2 890 000 euro
• Surface: 2450 m²
• Engineering: ABT België nv
• Technical studies: Gebotec bvba
• Software used: Autocad LT 2012, Sketch-up and Maxwell render

Image Courtesy © Areal architecten

The school is designed as a robust rectangular volume, an orthogonal stacking of classes, with excavations  made with extreme precision. Facing  the street a covered outdoor area is inserted that accentuates the main entrance and through the middle of the building an atrium opens up visibility from the playground to the wide green west of the building.

Image Courtesy © Areal architecten

The latter is complimented with a central void that unifies each level and seeds abundant natural light. Through these interventions a public space is created inside the school building, with vistas and social control that a real school community assume.

Image Courtesy © Areal architecten

Image Courtesy © Thomas De Bruyne

Image Courtesy © Areal architecten

Image Courtesy © Areal architecten

Image Courtesy © Thomas De Bruyne

Image Courtesy © Thomas De Bruyne

Image Courtesy © Thomas De Bruyne

Image Courtesy © Thomas De Bruyne

Image Courtesy © Thomas De Bruyne

Image Courtesy © Areal architecten

Image Courtesy © Areal architecten

Image Courtesy © Areal architecten

Image Courtesy © Areal architecten

Image Courtesy © Areal architecten

Image Courtesy © Areal architecten

Tags: Antwerp, Belgium

Categories: Autocad, Maxwell, School, SketchUp

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