Onderwijspark Ezinge in Meppel, Netherlands by Atelier PRO architekten

Article source: Atelier PRO architekten

The Ezinge education park is located in Meppel extending from the Ezinge residential neighbourhood, between the railway and cluster of sports fields. The elongated, bronze-tinted buildings accommodate five secondary schools and a sports complex. A new street, Dahliastraat, separates the school from the residences, and also enables the neighborhood to end with a new row of dwellings.

Image Courtesy © Maarten Noordijk

• Architects: Atelier PRO architekten
• Project: Onderwijspark Ezinge
• Location: Ezingerweg 51- 85, Meppel, Netherlands
• Photography: Christian van der Kooy, Maarten Noordijk
• Software used: Revit
• Design period: 2011 – 2013
• Construction period: 2013 – 2014
• Completion: July 2014
• Gross floor area: 7.594 m² (sport)+ 22.468 m² (school)= 30.062 m²
• Total building costs: € 20.021.892,-
• Client: Woonconcept Onroerend Goed bv, Meppel
• Project architect: Dorte Kristensen, Christina Kaiser
• Project leader: Christina Kaiser, Ronald Peters
• General contractor: Bouwcombinatie Hegeman/ WBC, Winterswijk

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Orientated perpendicular to the railway, the relatively narrow bands of buildings span between Ambachtsweg and Ezingerweg. This horizontal division, which also varies subtly in height, splits the building mass visually into smaller volumes. This connects the buildings better with the smaller scale of the adjacent residential neighbourhood. The integrated complex features a multi-storey building called the Hart van Ezinge, which serves as a landmark for the education park.

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Inviting
The entrances of the three large schools and auditoriums are placed in glass sections positioned between the bronze bands. Contrast in material and transparency lend the entrances an inviting quality. The entrances of the two special schools are facing the park which connects the school and sports complex . The design of the sports complex echoes the elongated form of the main buildings. Connected to the sports fields and green banks of Reest creek, the elevated complex accommodates bicycle parking and car park underneath.

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Although the schools operate independently with their own classrooms and open areas for working, they are mutually connected by shared workshops for practical subjects. The technical workshops are strategically placed along the new Dahliastraat; in this way, the students can showcase their work to the public. The classrooms for hospitality subjects front a terrace in the park. Visible from a distance is the multi-storey building with theatre and dance hall, and classrooms for art and music.

A building containing shared facilities for five different schools must be united by a clear concept. A central waterfall stair that cascades along voids and dynamic walkways form a true architectural route through the building.

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Anodised aluminium
With its glimmering tints of bronze, the building has a striking appearance. Light bounces from the distinctive facade cassettes made of anodized aluminum, both flat and sloped. The ribbed aluminum panels on the plinth form a light-coloured band that wraps around the building. The tower landmark stands out through the colour full artwork . A limited range of windows was specified for the facade, their deep reveals and playful arrangement contribute to the building’s lively appearance.

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Het Baken van Ezinge (The Beacon of Ezinge)
The end facades of the multi-storey Heart of Ezinge are adorned with an impressive glass artwork entitled Het Baken van Ezinge (The Beacon of Ezinge). Designed by Amsterdam-based studio Driessen + Van Deijne, the artwork comprises two digital ceramic prints on glass measuring 10 x 21 metres and 8 x 21 metres. The abstract graphic derives from plant motifs. Art and culture are important foundations of the curriculum, so the tower that houses all the creative subjects forms the perfect canvas for this monumental 600m² artwork.

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Image Courtesy © Christian van der Kooy

Image Courtesy © Atelier PRO architekten

Image Courtesy © Atelier PRO architekten

Image Courtesy © Atelier PRO architekten

Image Courtesy © Atelier PRO architekten

Tags: Meppel, Netherlands

Categories: Mixed use, Revit, School, Sports Complex

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