The school, located in the centre of Utrecht, having lost its original function in 2005, was divided into eight elements each to be sold separately and renovated into new residential properties.
BYTR was asked to renovate two of these elements into three apartments. However the architects proposed a more complex solution which would allow for a fourth apartment to be included in the same space, generating more revenue for the project.
Years of modifications, improvements and repairs to the facades and interiors have created a rich tapestry of materials and spatial relations which record the long history of the school. BYTR have both drawn upon and continued this tradition when creating the new internal volumes as well as a new internal external relationship more suited to the schools new residential function.
Windows to the rear of the building were lowered to better suit the domestic condition as the originals, to prevent students from being distracted, were located above head height and offered no views to the outside world. The use of mezzanines not only maximizes the amount of living space available but also creates an interesting play between different levels, areas of light and dark and introverted versus extraverted spaces. Stairs play an important role in this interior, not only acting as a bridge between these contrasting levels but also as an object which both defines and enhances the space. The clever use of bathrooms, storage and closet space further this idea of objects defining rooms.
