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How do you create a healthy learning environment in an industrial area?

The Element in Amersfoort encompasses the new construction of two secondary schools (VMBO), three sports halls, a dojo, a Language Center, and the new outdoor space for approximately 1,000 students. In its design, De Zwarte Hond opted for a robust building with a focus on small scale and tranquility.

photo_credit Eva Bloem
Eva Bloem

 

The Element offers education at different levels within one building using 'clubhouses,' which provide a sense of security and the opportunity for students to work at their own level. The building has 9 clubhouses, each with its own facilities, such as practical rooms and theory classrooms.

photo_credit Eva Bloem
Eva Bloem

 

Located on Kaliumweg in the Industrial Quarter of Amersfoort, next to the green quarantine field, the inviting entrance to this field welcomes students, teachers, and visitors. They are guided through the central heart of the building to a green and intimate rooftop terrace. From this central heart, all clubhouses are accessible, but each clubhouse also has its own staircase, ensuring separate traffic flows and a calm learning environment.

The building has a homely atmosphere with plenty of daylight and a clear, robust architecture, utilizing honest materials. The site layout enhances the outdoor space with a raised forecourt and green zones around the school, significantly improving the quality of the industrial environment.

photo_credit Eva Bloem
Eva Bloem

 

 

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