We have designed a municipal nursery and primary school on a beautiful plot in Berlaar, a distinctive town within a ribbon development. The route from the church passes a host of characteristic landmarks: the convent, the farm and the rectory. All robust brick buildings with recognisable profiles. The school forms part of this natural cadence and sits comfortably within the streetscape. On the side facing the garden, where the communal areas are sited, it feels more like a country house. The plan also follows the layout of a large rural property. As in a villa, one can walk through a succession of beautiful rooms: a promenade of idiosyncratic spaces in which urban moments are contained. The school has three characteristic staircases, various roof solutions, occasional balconies, vistas and interior windows, so that every move facilitates a new insight or an unexpected encounter.
Bas-relief showing the compact building volume
Collective spaces (refectory, gymnasium, multipurpose room) with large windows and direct connection to the garden
The characteristic profile of the east facade mediates between ribbon development and rural landscape
Covered playgrounds follow the same logic of sloping roofs but contrast against the brickwork of the school building
Shed typology in rural west facade
Street facade referring to neighboring building typologies
Multipurpose corridor between the kindergarten and refectory.
One of the classrooms of the primary school
Vista and interior windows between collective spaces
Ethics class on the first floor
Community School
Berlaar
The school as a figure along the main road
Ground floor
First floor
Longitudinal section
Cross section
- Design teamDirk Somers, Merijn Muller, Reinaart Vandersloten, Isabel Dedeurwaerdere, Sidse Hald, Wim Boesten, Eline Aerts & Elke Hoendervangers
- LocationBerlaar
- Year2011 - 2016
- ClientAG Real Estate and the community of Berlaar
- ProgramCommunity school with after-school childcare, music school and gym
- PhotographyFilip Dujardin