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Cuypers & Q

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• Status:

  Design

• Education level:

  Primary Education (pre-school + primary)
  

• Address:

  Beukenbosstraat 24, 2400 Mol
  

• Client:

  GO! Community Education of the Flemish Community Kla 4 School group School group Kempen

• Contest:

  Open Call 15

• Programme:

  Mol: classrooms, exercise hall, administration, multifunctional space, staffroom, kitchen Lier: classrooms, supporting classrooms, multifunctional space, administration

• Area:

  896m²
  

The same modular system can result in completely different buildings

The Antwerp office of architects Cuypers & Q designed a modular and compact type of construction for these two primary schools. Dealing with surface area economically is the motto in this concept: they use as little surface area as possible for ‘ordinary’ circulation space. Strange but true, the architects were inspired by the existing buildings. The same type of construction was used on both sites, in Lier and in Mol. The structure of these buildings is clear and simple: four classrooms arranged around a shared multifunctional entrance hall. Multifunctional use is not a meaningless term in this respect, because the hall is used as a covered playground, a gymnasium, an extension of the classrooms and for celebrations. This central space opens onto the classrooms, the head teacher’s room, the staffroom and the toilets. This spatial concept has a magical effect: the school does not have any spatial hierarchy and all the classrooms have the same importance. Attractive through vistas are created through internal windows. The architecture enables informal contacts between teachers, pupils, the head teacher and staff.

The new building uses the existing spatial spontaneity and rationalism. In the new concept all the spaces have equal importance and are arranged next to each other around the multifunctional entrance hall. There is no traditional corridor; the pupils can work diligently and undisturbed in the circulation areas. In order to create an energy-efficient and maintenance-friendly building, the programme is stacked on different floors wherever possible. In Mol, there are two classrooms on the ground floor and five on the first floor. In Lier, the situation is slightly different: as it is a school for special education, there are only two classrooms upstairs. The staircase is used as a spatial element. Located in a space two floors high, it serves as a sort of viewing platform. The flat roof of the ground floor is used in an interesting way as a terrace or outdoor classroom. In terms of its position, the new building also responds to the existing buildings in an intelligent way. Together, the old and the new structure the site, defining the playground and the entrance to the site.

The modular building system that was used means that it can be built quickly and economically. This design shows that a prefabricated structure does not have to be a boring or monotonous building. Two totally different buildings are the result of a single clear principle. With a different design for the prefabricated panels of the elevations each building acquires its own identity, related to its location and its users. Although Cuypers & Q do not use space wastefully anywhere within the physical norms, the buildings are still warm and inviting. Modular building as a spatial success.