Sustainable renovation for innovative learning environment for the Hotel School The Hague.
A pragmatic approach has transformed the building into a spacious, contemporary and future-proof accommodation.
After the addition of two extensions, the building had lost its original clear structure. In the design process for the interior and exterior, Fokkema restored structure and clarity through a balanced design for both the entrance and the new facade.
Distinctive, appealing and transparent experience
To do justice to the identity of the Hotel School, the small existing entrance has been replaced by a new, spacious entrance. The entrance and the new façade have become iconic elements, both of which are in keeping with the existing architecture but provide a contemporary, distinctive image. The addition of new voids and staircases creates a connecting route that enhances the open character. In the semi-sunken basement, a large void brings daylight and transforms it into an attractive study centre. A lot of daylight also enters the basement through the relocation of the entrance and the design of the new schoolyard. In the high-rise, a stack of smaller voids connects the office and education wings with a split level.
Healthy and comfortable working environment
The design, the new installations and the modified façade are all aimed at creating a healthy and comfortable working environment. The comfort has been improved by adding air treatment. When working out the acoustic solutions, a lot of attention was paid to the different areas. In the education area, the connectivity rooms and the workplaces, the choice of the type of floor finish, ceiling and, for example, the use of speech screens between the desks was geared to the right comfort level for the activity.
A healthy working environment encourages people to exercise, and adding and visualising the stairs contributes to this. The open structure of the kitchen makes it visible how the cook prepares food, and the restaurant promotes a healthy diet. In addition, the green wall contributes to the experiential value and therefore to a healthy working environment.
Integral design including technical aspects
For this project, Fokkema & Partners worked closely together with various advisors of Arcadis and the building contractor to come to an appropriate and integral design. A new façade with triple glazing, the installation of a balanced ventilation concept with a heat exchange system and extra roof and wall insulation have led to an upgrade of the energy label from level G to A. The building is also equipped with a green roof, solar panels, water-saving toilets and taps and a smart-building system with presence detector to manage the lighting, CO2 levels and humidity. The challenge lay in integrating the large ductwork within the existing building structure. In collaboration with the installation consultants and structural engineer, it was decided to transport the ducts vertically and to incorporate them in pre-walls around the cores. This preserved the spaciousness and made the original structure of columns and beams visible.
Consistent detailing and materialisation
The spatial and plastic quality of the original architecture was embraced and enhanced by Fokkema & Partners. The detailing and dimensions of the completely renewed façade were inspired by the rhythm and proportions of the original architecture. The dimensions of the columns and beams of the new entrance are also precisely derived from the original concrete structure in the façade of the high-rise building, thus contributing to the consistent size of the detailing. The colour palette for the new elements is in keeping with the 1964 building design. Transparent varnished wood and the basic colours of steel blue and ochre are a logical continuation of the quality that was already present.
Team:
Architects: Fokkema & Partners Architecten.
Photographer: Bram Vreugdenhil
