SeARCH was commissioned by the municipality of Zoetermeer to design a flexible, multifunctional cluster of 5 small-scale schools with daycare and afterschool care within a newly developed VINEX (suburban) residential area. A warm and friendly atmosphere not typical with these new developments was created through scale, expressive colors and materials. A highly sustainable design approach emphasized building orientation, day lighting, morphology and orientation.
In the process of designing the schools, SeARCH discovered that linking them through a common interior corridor on the north façade would create not only a distinctive spatial quality for the schoolyards, but also the flexibility necessary to adapt to changes in numbers of students from year to year. The orientation of the building to the north not only mitigates heat load, but also opens up the schoolyards to the south which can vary in shapes and size and allow for more interesting spaces for the playrooms and auditorium. A bicycle route continues directly through the middle of the complex, providing connectivity within the neighborhood.
The south façade is minimally glazed, while the entire building is triple glazed for maximum energy efficiency. The staggered roofs alternate photovoltaic paneling with grass, which mitigate water runoff and provide insulation while providing a visual alternative to the ubiquitous pitched roofs of VINEX developments. Low temperature heating is combined with a balanced ventilation system that provides fresh air to the school with low energy consumption. The high heat resistance of the exterior envelope keeps the building cool in summer and warm in winter. Energy efficient lighting and solar water heating contribute to a high GPR rating of 8.5.
The entries to each school have been pinched, or squeezed together, creating shortened sight lines out of the building and into the schoolyards. These transparent, glazed entries provide easy way-finding for students while allowing in daylight. Art works by Lino Hellings created when she was a child and later adapted in Photoshop are displayed on the entrance windows of each school. The sunlight is hued by the translucent film of these puppets, producing a vibrant play of color in the entrance halls.
