'De Bloesem' Primary school for special education Sint-Truiden


VBM Architects

'De Bloesem' Primary school for special education Sint-Truiden view of the building in its green environment (enlarged view in image gallery)

Photos: VBM Architects, Bavo Swijgers, Sofie Bullynck

  • 'De Bloesem' Primary school for special education Sint-Truiden view of the building in its green environment
  • 'De Bloesem' Primary school for special education Sint-Truiden view of the building from the play ground
  • 'De Bloesem' Primary school for special education Sint-Truiden view of the side of the building
  • 'De Bloesem' Primary school for special education Sint-Truiden corridor
  • 'De Bloesem' Primary school for special education Sint-Truiden OSB as detailing
  • 'De Bloesem' Primary school for special education Sint-Truiden classroom on ground floor
  • 'De Bloesem' Primary school for special education Sint-Truiden classroom on first floor
  • BSBO 'De Bloesem' Sint-Truiden plan van gelijkvloers
  • 'De Bloesem' Primary school for special education Sint-Truiden plan of the first floor

  • Status:

    Realized

  • Education type:

    GO! Education of the Flemish Community

  • Education level:

    Special Primary Education

  • Address:

    Halmaalweg 31, 3800 Sint-Truiden

  • Client:

    GO! Education of the Flemish Community, School group 13

  • Keywords:

    Masterplan

  • Contest:

    Open Call 1

  • Programme:

    1st stage masterplan: new classrooms, toilets

  • Area:

    848m2

  • Number of classrooms:

    8 classrooms


Future-oriented and sustainable building

Instead of filling the park up with new pavilions, it was decided to demolish a number of temporary constructions. The need for new buildings was designed in phases and a masterplan was developed in order to ensure that the new building and possible future extensions would fit in with the existing school buildings. For this purpose, a comb-like structure was proposed, with the backbone on the street side and various arms reaching into the green areas. After the first phase was completed, the second phase has now been approved.

The new design opens onto the park and creates a number of inner courtyards, which also interconnect. The corridors on the ground floor and on the first floor are arranged at opposite sides of the building. In this way, the classrooms on the ground floor each have their own intimate vegetable garden, while the classrooms on the first floor look out over the whole park.

The wooden façade ensures that the building is integrated in the park landscape. The arrangement of windows was designed by analogy with the existing school buildings, but they are on a smaller scale and randomly placed. Seen from inside, each classroom has a unique elevation. In this way, the identity of every classroom is guaranteed, and a monotonous look is avoided.

The future adaptability of the extension was made possible with a flexible system of modules of 2.20 m and load-bearing walls in brickwork. On the other hand, the facade is made with a wooden frame.

The compact, rectangular structure results in better volumes and lower thermal losses. The levels of insulation were increased to an economic maximum and in addition, cold bridges were avoided trough building details. Finally, the energy consumption was also influenced by the smaller, flexible, decentralised technical areas, so that the technology could be diversified in response to the individual needs.

The use of a green roof and the east-west orientation contribute to the energy efficiency of the building in general. A number of trees close to the new building serve as a natural sun shield. Permeable surfaces and cobblestones allow for the buffering and recuperation of rain water.

The choice of materials was based on ecological considerations, but durability and low maintenance also played a role in this (thermally treated wood, roof vegetation, aluminium window frames). Materials in a natural or primary condition are less vulnerable to damage and acquire a sort of patina with the ageing process.