ARCHELLO YOUR CONNECTION WITH ARCHITECTURE

In this design two schools for Children with learning disabilities (12-18 years) share one building, in which they can use each other’s facilities. The children will be educated on different levels in small learning groups. The teachers individualize learning to meet each student’s needs. Practical education is important for these children, therefore a wood and steel workshop and a kitchen for the catering industry have a special place in the building.

There are two entrances, one on every front facade. On the ground floor the schools share the practical education classrooms. The clusters on the other floors are fitting the educational system of each school. Excellent routing and exciting visual views became spatial starting points.
Daylight moves through the building and is part of the spatial experience. It also helps by orientation. For this group of children, extra attention is given to a save and clear learner environment. The placement of the staircases make it possible for clusters to function on their own, therefore circulation never crosses the learning zones. The different schools share two large bright gymnasiums: one is used as a classical gymnasium. The second is set up as a dance and fitness room, which can also be used after school-hours by the neighborhood through a separate entrance.

Despite a limited building budget, it was possible to cover the facades with travertine and bronzed aluminum frames. This because of a pragmatic and rational constructive structure and spatial design of the building. With these materials the building fits in a local tradition of utilitarian travertine buildings. By night, the translucent sidings of the upper gymnasium make the building act as a lantern.