De Muziekladder

To complement the existing Music Academy, the client GO! (Community Education Flanders) introduced two new buildings facing each other: a kindergarten and a primary school. A central garden serves as a buffer zone and connection between the two. Due to the limited buildable area and urban context of the plots, a very precise arrangement and stacking of the programme were key to the design. For the primary school this required a 'type-plan' with a central cross-shaped corridor opening into four classrooms. The architects used the compact cross-shaped arrangement to organize all the support features for the classrooms: circulation, techniques, storerooms and sanitary facilities. Moreover, the cross also functions as an acoustic buffer between classrooms. On the ground floor, the multifunctional hall and its grandstand act as a bridge between the street and the playground. On the top floor, the structure ends in an attic classroom with an atypical sloping roof that offers space for special activities or lessons. The kindergarten is the ‘baby brother’ of the primary school. Because the plan and facade are structured in the same way, albeit in a smaller format, the relationship between the two buildings is immediately obvious.

This text is based on the project text provided by the architects.