how does Mevrouw Meijer work?
Our motto is that a school that wants to plan its future, must first take the time to think, talk, and let architects investigate the possibilities of the existing building. This is a process in which all those involved in the school are actively involved. Then they can make well-founded choices.
It is crucial to treat renovation or transformation as a full-fledged design assignment for the entire school building. Take the time to visualize the possibilities and think about the choice. In the meantime, also make honest calculations of the financial and environmental costs.
We explain this using our 5-step plan.
As an example, we take Molenwiek Dalton, a public primary school in Haarlem.
1. the school up to now
Start with the documentation of the history and the existing situation.
Result: historical sketch and analysis.
This simplified sketch shows the original building 1977 and (in pink) the extension 1999:
2. everything on a row
Make an inventory of current building characteristics and current and future educational requirements.
Result: preliminary program of requirements.
3. discover what you can choose
Design research in which three architects explore the possibilities, and each choose a different direction.
Result: three designs at preliminary design level (in Dutch: VO).
1. TU Eindhoven Student Team continue the original design with long internal sight lines:
2. Alvarez Ouburg has framed the irregular shape of the school in a rectangle with patios, offering space for neighbourhood functions:
3. Korth Tielens adds a compact extension in two layers, which also forms a gate and outdoor classroom:
4. cool numbers
During steps 2 and 3, we make full and honest cost calculations, both financially and in terms of sustainability (carbon emissions).
Result: calculation of three designs; also for reference the numbers for basic renovation and for comparable new construction.
5. new life
The transformed building, realized by Korth Tielens Architects.
