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

Our goal in designing the new school building in Berlaar was to create a structure that harmonizes with the town’s distinctive ribbon development and meaningfully contributes to the local context.

We drew inspiration from the site’s unique characteristics and the broader area to guide our design. The route from the church of Berlaar through Pastorijstraat features a series of charming and characteristic buildings—including the church, monastery, castle, farm, and parsonage—all distinguished by their robust brick façades and striking profiles. The new school integrates seamlessly into this architectural rhythm, fitting comfortably within the streetscape.

Additionally, the school is set within a lush garden filled with mature trees and shrubs. To complement this natural setting, we envisioned the building as a grand country house, providing the final piece to the garden’s aesthetic puzzle. This approach ensures that the school not only integrates with its environment but also enriches it.

The building’s design features a unique profile that reflects the ribbon development while embodying the character of a villa in a garden. Its layout, inspired by the country house typology, includes living spaces oriented toward the garden and collective areas at the rear. The ground floor is conceived as a promenade of distinctive spaces, fostering exploration and interaction. Visitors can navigate from the entrance hall through the gym, refectory, and multipurpose nursery, experiencing various routes and moments within a cohesive and engaging environment. The school also features three characteristic staircases, diverse roof solutions, occasional balconies, vistas, and interior windows, ensuring every movement reveals a new perspective or unexpected encounter.

  • 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