─ School for children with behavioural disorders

─ 7200 m2

─ Design phase

─ Result of a research with Mevrouw Meijer

In 2018, krft participated in a design research initiated by Mevrouw Meijer. This organization takes on the (re)design of schools by matching young architects with schools in need of unique spatial solutions. In our case, the research covered the fusion of multiple smaller schools for children with learning disabilities and social disorders. In a team with Studio Selva and MAKS, we collectively researched the site and the spatial organization together with the specialists - the teachers. krft challenged the paradox of the large school size and the tailored, personal attention that the children needed, in a pavillion typology, allowing every age group to have its own 'small school'.

After the research, the newly formed fusion school - IKEC - allowed all young research partners to enter the tendering phase which led to krft being selected as their design partner.

Since then, we have intensively communicated with the school board and teachers to translate the conceptual pavillion typology into a functional school building. This resulted in a constellation of lowrise 'houses', put together in a lush green landscape.

In this environment, the children have a strong relation with their individual house and a strong relation to the landscape, helping them feel at home in school, despite their sometimes complicated personal situation.