Projects -

Nicolaas Maes school

The Nicolaas Maes School is located on the enclosed area inside a closed perimeter block in Amsterdam South. The brief was seemingly self-contradictory. The building had to be light, but the area of glazing in the walls had to be restricted to avoid wasting heat. The classrooms had to be roomy, but the height of each storey and other dimensions had to be limited because of construction and operation costs.
The challenge was addressed largely by the use of translucent formed panels. These clad almost the entire facade and cover the openings formed above the windows. The effect is to admit more daylight and give a subtle depth to the facade.
The way that the programme functions are organised inside the building matches the exterior in its clarity. The classrooms were placed on the north side of the school to prevent them from getting too hot in the summer. Each floor has four classrooms, grouped in pairs around areas on the window side, where pupils can work independently.
Sliding doors separate the work areas from the classrooms so that the teacher can keep an eye on two groups at once from the classroom. The classrooms adjoin a central corridor.
The other rooms are placed on the south side of the building. The double-height assembly hall is situated on the second floor. The library, which adjoins the assembly hall on the third floor, opens out onto a roof garden.