The Rietveld Lyceum school is housed in one of the last buildings designed by the famous Dutch architect, Gerrit Rietveld. The introduction of the educational concept of study centres and the loss of the use of an annexe meant that an extension was required. The new facilities will provide some 900 square metres of space to accommodate 7 classrooms as well as reading rooms for 2 study centres.
The basic concept of the extension is to treat the building and its environment as an integral unit by looking for a solution that not only provides more room while at the same time creating a focal point for the school, but also adds to the quality of the parkland. The solution was to lower most of the extension below ground level. The resulting view is of a timber-clad volume that rises out of its surroundings. Daylight is provided by patios, which also act as points of orientation where the study centres find a place of their own.