On the outskirts of the municipality of Borger-Odoorn, in the east of the Netherlands, the new building of the Esdal College offers a modern home for around two hundred pre-vocational secondary education (vmbo) students. They themselves were also allowed to help determine what their ideal school should look like. Together with the teachers, they created a list of requirements: the new school had to include high-tech features and provide a warm, homely, and safe atmosphere.

The two-story school building is compact and clearly organized around a distinctly recognizable core. The ground floor is designed for activity oriented learning, with practical subjects such as 'Services & Products' and 'Arts & Culture'. On the upper floor, a calm learning environment has been created, providing space for theoretical subjects and focused work. With a rooftop terrace, workspaces, a large practical kitchen and plenty of space for multimedia and robotics, the building is a driver for modern education. The open cafeteria with a sightline to the upper floor connects the entire school, fostering a sense of unity. The soft colors and mix of(work)spaces create a cozy, home-like atmosphere throughout the school.

Borger is located on the sandy Hondsrug and near the former marshlands of the peat colonies.Characteristics of this unique convergence of landscapes are reflected in the building's exterior. The wild masonry plinth with a 'mud joint' symbolizes the rugged and organic nature of thesandy soil. The sleek dark plank profile of burnedwood refers to peat extraction and the crossed ribson the upper floor are a modern interpretation of the traditional weaving craftsmanship seen in the region's farmhouses. The sawtooth roofs also contribute to the school's character but are primarily functional: the extra height makes theupper floor feel very spacious, the sloping roofs capture solar energy on the less steep southwestside, and the roof lights, oriented to the northeast, ensure that natural light penetrates deep into the school without unnecessary heating.

A school with a warm, homely, and safe feeling! This is what the students and teachers of Esdal College in Borger wished for. With these wishes in mind, BDG Architecten created this beautifully unique design for the school.

To choose the materials, the architectural firm was inspired by the former marshland areas of the peat bogs in the Borger region. The wild brick plinth symbolizes the sandy soil, the black charred Yoroi and Omiyama refers to the peat extraction, and finally, the crossed ribs made from the charred boards are a modern version of the weaving found in traditional farmhouses.