Innovative school design enables new opportunities for learning

Tenderstream member CCO Architects, alongside NEXT architects, is celebrating the opening of Voorhof Children’s Centre in Lelystad, the Netherlands. The centre brings together two primary schools, a childcare centre, and a sports hall, all under one roof. Designed as a pavilion in the park, the building creates new opportunities for shared learning, community and everyday encounters, while allowing each user group to maintain its own identity. The green façade and strong connection to the surrounding landscape reflects an ambition to create a welcoming and sustainable environment for children. 

The fundamental concept driving the design was to craft a distinctive, unified structure that revitalises and reinforces the neighbourhood’s identity. Developed through extensive collaboration with its users, the resulting architectural expression takes the form of a rotated pavilion. This rotation optimises the utilisation of the surrounding park and provides extensive views, with the absence of a distinct front or back rendering the building accessible from all directions. To ensure a seamless integration, the building’s façade is constructed from recycled plastic, creating a cohesive appearance drawing inspiration from the playful nature of tree leaves, with plastic tiles replicating their tone and size. 

Emphasis was placed on integrating the varied visions of different users along with practical considerations. This included accommodating extra-large group areas, providing a dedicated space for celebrations and performances, establishing an open kitchen, and creating interconnected areas for both afternoon care and daycare. Several rooms serve a dual function: what can be used as an open kitchen during the day can be re-purposed for afternoon care in the evening.

Mikkel Hermann Sørensen, CCO founder and partner, stated: “At the Voorhof Children’s Centre, our architecture is all about making kids feel at home. We have designed spaces where they can learn, play, and grow comfortably. The design contributes to creating an environment that supports curiosity and exploration.”

Lucy Nordberg

Tenderstream Head of Research

This tender was first published by Tenderstream on 26.04.2022 here

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