At the Duurstedelaan in Utrecht lies one of the most sustainable schools of the Netherlands. The school is centrally located in a reviving neighbourhood, in the south of Utrecht and accommodates three primary schools, a nursery and a broad programme of functions related to the school and local community. Future users participated from the start in the design-process. Different users gain with collaboration, but also want to be recognized and have their own specific needs. All functions are organised round a collective court space. The gym is constructed above this space and thus forms the roof of the court. The building is set up in red brickwork that is continued in the playground boundaries. The identity of the different schools is reflected in their own colour and pattern in het façade panelling and silhouette of the building-mass. The whole setup matches with the urban scale of the neighbourhood and blends in naturally.
| Architects | Gerrit-Jan van Rijswijk, Thomas Gillet |
The former university building at the Stationsweg, has been renovated and expanded into a 118-room economy hotel. It is the first franchise hotel of all 870 Ibis hotels in the world and the first Ibis hotel according to the new Ibis generation formula. The new hotel is located opposite Leiden station and is clearly visible from the railway and station.
The 60s building has a completely new facade. The horizontality of the original facade has been enhanced even more in the new facade by providing the parapets of all floors with relatively narrow bands of ceramic elements, placed in varying colors. The black frames and cladding are fitted with a deep gap in relation to the ceramic elements. This makes the colorful horizontal ceramic elements iconic. The facade is continued above the roof. The high, slightly recessed eaves provides a clear termination and also shields the installations on the roof. The plinth of the building is made of a robust stone and a lot of glass. Together with the long white stately canopy of light concrete, they form the basis for the horizontally articulated facade on the one hand and an inviting entrance to the hotel on the other. The high ground floor has been made suitable for public functions such as reception, bar, lounge and dining room, also designed by VVKH. In addition to the "Ibis identifiers", the program of requirements and the wishes of the owner, the zoning, materialization, the existing height and the characteristic concrete construction were also the starting point for the interior design.
photography: Roos Aldershoff ©
The new faculty OCP of Delft university of technology, accommodates the disciplines of Mechanical, Maritime and Industrial Design. During the constructionworks school continued. The new building shows a contemporary, logical and efficient architectural structure with it's own recognizable facade in the TU-district. The interior design is executed as an integral part of the whole plan.
VVKH has been selected to design a primairy school at the Jazzsingel in Utrecht. The tough looking school is centrally located with a park as it's backyard. The classrooms are organised around an elips-shaped playroom for exercize, music and dance classes. The set backs in the side-facades allow each classroom a view to the park.
