Arentheem College Situated on the valuable and fragile south-west corner of Park Presikhaaf, the new campus complex for Arentheem College forms a unity with the green landscape. Here, three schools are connected by a second surface level whilst retaining their own identity. This is achieved in a single building were student flows of the different tenants can be kept separate.
Urban development principles and the limited space available on the campus gave rise to the second surface level. Above this plinth the school’s theory landscapes are designed in separate volumes. Underneath this second level the practical areas and the so-called service strip are situated. This strip accommodates the utility functions such as parking, stockroom, waste processing and bicycle sheds. The second surface level is predominantly green and features daylight openings. In this landscape the entrance courtyards and the various outside areas are located in between the different volumes. This preserves the required transparency when approaching the building from the city.
The entire edifice is sunken one and a half metres into the surrounding watercourse, making it look lower. On the park side the second surface level rises from the water as a green embankment, giving the building the impression of being a natural continuation of the park. Through the scaling down of the different volumes on the second surface level, the greenspace layout and the sunken construction, the campus is no longer an obstacle in the park but rather an integrated part of the landscape. Three bridges with an ample flight of steps form the access points to the second surface level.
A façade with maximum transparency was chosen to express the city inhabitants how pleasant and useful this type of instruction class lessons can be. The sunken location allows for a wide and deep view from the street level into the building, allowing the classes to present itself optimally to the outside world.
Designed as Architect Director of Broekbakema.
