VMBO Veurs
VMBO Veurs
VMBO Veurs
A secure school building that opens to the neighborhood
A positive view of VMBO
VMBO Veurs opens up to the neighborhood and its residents - and that is a conscious choice: by showing what VMBO has to offer to students and society, we want to break the - often negative - image of this type of school. There are practice rooms on the ground floor of the building, but also a student-run teaching restaurant with an open, visible kitchen and an “exercise shop”, for people from the neighborhood. This way, you can see visually and in practice what VMBO education can mean. The students are also no longer anonymous “students” and the local residents are no longer “local residents”, because this way they get to know and appreciate each other better.
A school with a sense of home
The building is characterized by openness, but also by security; our goal was to design a school with a sense of home instead of a user-friendly, minimal building block. As a result, the students are proud of their building - and therefore more economical with it. In addition, a clear signal is also being sent: VMBO students are also worth investing in. And that is an investment that pays off — because it is the VMBO students who desperately need our future.
Two entrances: safe and in the middle of society
The social facilities are easily accessible, because the school has a spacious private entrance for outside visitors at the head to the street. The main entrance, which is used by the students, is located just on the side of the building, so it leads directly into the central hall. This entrance is located on the schoolyard, in a 'notch' in the façade and is small — and therefore organized. In addition, a low fence has also been placed around the schoolyard. This way, the neighborhood is' protected 'and at the same time the students have their own place.
The central hall as the heart of the school
The central hall acts as the heart of the school. Here, the students meet each other, in a pleasant space that opens over a height of three floors, with a grandstand staircase and light from above. The hall is also visually connected to the schoolyard by means of a spacious curtain wall. The large staircase is the hub in the school's social life, and ensures that the hall can also be used for shows and social events.
Visibility: everyone feels' seen '
The various sections fan out from the hall through the rest of the building, without intersecting, and are clustered at the ends of the building. Widened corridors have been designed here, which are an ideal place to study. The theory rooms, which are shared by all sections, are centrally located in the building and are directly accessible from the central hall. In fact, the different areas for staff and administration are more divided; this way, teachers are visible and approachable and can supervise more easily. There is also a waiting room for visitors next to the reception, so that no one can wander through the building uninvited. The open and transparent design of the interior appears to have a positive effect on the students: everyone feels' seen 'and therefore takes more account of each other.
A future-proof building
The building is supported by columns in the facades and corridors, so that the partitions between the rooms can be arranged flexibly; this also makes it easier to make any subsequent changes in function. Fixed facilities such as shafts and toilets are centrally located in the middle area, so they are always easily accessible. The gym is located on the south side of the building, on the first floor; this way, it is possible to supervise the schoolyard. The gym is directly connected to a staircase and an elevator and also connects to the additional entrance; this allows the hall to be rented out to external parties in the evenings, without having to open the entire building.
A compact and energy-efficient volume
The shape and appearance of the building were determined by a multitude of factors: the urban framework conditions and the shape of the plot played a role, but also the Image Quality Plan for the neighborhood and the optimal organization inside the building. The specific shape has created an optimal ratio between the building volume and the surface of the outer shell, which in turn leads to a more energy-efficient building. Because the built-up area was smaller than prescribed, the school also had more outdoor space for the schoolyard.
An iconic brick façade
The façade makes the building special and at the same time part of the environment. The yellow, soft stone, which is traditionally bricked, is in line with the materialization of the surrounding buildings, including the adjacent primary school. A combination of horizontal and vertical lanes in different masonry settings ensures a clear façade layout. Perforated panels have been installed in front of the windows that can be opened. These openwork surfaces give the building a special appearance even at night, when the light comes through from inside.
The outdoor area as an extension of the interior
With its large benches surrounded by planters, the schoolyard is an extension of the interior. The bicycle shed for teachers and students will be located on the south side of the square; this shed can be reached directly from the adjacent street, so that the schoolyard can be kept free of cyclists and their bicycles. The new school, partly due to its careful social, architectural and spatial integration, has given the neighborhood a positive boost — what was previously a vacant lot is now a real “place”.
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