Schools of Tomorrow, Kortrijk
A new learning centre for adults is created on a former industrial railway site next to the ring road of Kortrijk. The school will be the first new building on this site, adjacent to the city centre. The building will accomodate three separate institutions.
Respectful to its environment, the new building tries to appropriately respond to the different components and scales of the nieghbourhood. Block A turns towards open square and the site of Kortrijk Weide while block B relates to the adjacent houses and block C, perceived tangentially from the ring road, provides a visual frame to the nearby warehouse building. Adult learning centres do not need any enclosed playground, therefore the school's precints can seemlessly merge with the public square.
An impressive cantilever articulates the main entrance located in the transparent base of the building. The base connects the classrooms with the environment, so the open character of the square seemingly continues inside the building. The double height space inside the main volume catalyses strong interactions between the ground- and first floor. On the second floor, an enclosed terrace provides another interface with the square and the surrounding landscape.
Client: DBFM Scholen van Morgen nv, vertegenwoordigd door de afgevaardigd bouwheer, AG Real Estate CO-Production in Development nv (AG RE COPID)
Concept: SumProject
In collaboration with: Util Struktuurstudies cvba (structure), Istema nv (HVAC)
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