Mecanoo Begins Construction of Onze Droomschool in Dordrecht, NL

Today marks the official start of construction of the new building for Onze Droomschool in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, designed by Mecanoo architecten. The new 5,322 m² school brings together education, child care and medical care.

The Vlij ‘Mytyl’ school, the Blije Gaarde school and the Dordtse Buitenschool collaborate in their new premises with the care support body Gemiva-SVG Group and the Rijndam revalidation center. In addition to classrooms, the building will house practical training studios, a mediatheque, music studio, sports center and an outdoor Johan Cruijff court for soccer and basketball.

Project Description from the Architects:

‘Human scale and security’ – this is the key concept in Mecanoo’s design for Onze Droomschool. By splitting the building up into a family of little brick houses it reflects the typical saddleback roofs found in the vicinity of the school.

The ‘Onderbouwhuis’ [junior classes], ‘Bovenbouwhuis’ [senior classes], ‘Sporthuis’ and ‘Kinderrevalidatiehuis’ [children’s revalidation house] have their own individual colour of brick such as brown, orange and pale yellow making them easily recognizable for the children. The pupils feel safe and at home in their ‘own houses’.

Transparent glass zones with the canteen, mediatheque and covered play area link up the different houses.  To give the children a warm and comfortable home, all of the walls, floors and ceilings of the school are made of wood. This layered wood is not only extremely sustainable and CO2-neutral, but also has a damp-regulating function and good insulating properties. It is so beautiful that it also acts as the interior finish.

Reception areas, stairs, banisters, cupboards and open shelving, shutters and doors are all implemented in this solid wood.