Compagnie O Architecten bvba

Elementary School Lebbeke

Elementary School Lebbeke
© Tim Van De Velde
Elementary School Lebbeke
© Tim Van De Velde

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEBBEKE

Compagnie O Architects

STUDY STABILITY 
UTIL Struktuurstudies

CLIENT
AG Real Estate

MANUFACTURERS 
Reynaers Aluminium, Foster, Artigo, Koramic

LEAD ARCHITECTS 
Joke Vermeulen & Francis Catteeuw

CONTRACTOR
TV Jan de Nul Group en Van Laere

STUDY TECHNIQUES 
Abetec NV

PHOTOGRAPHS
Tim Van De Velde

AREA
2300 m²

YEAR
2017

LOCATION
Lebbeke, Belgium

CATEGORY
Elementary & Middle School

Text description provided by architect.

In Lebbeke we challenged ourselves to create a typology, which has the potential to grow and follow the changing school environment. A building with “a heart”.

Elementary School Lebbeke
© Tim Van De Velde
Elementary School Lebbeke
© Tim Van De Velde

INTELLIGENT STRUCTURE

This design starts from an intelligent structure that allows flexible infill.

Its grid size adapts and responds to the site and program. The heart -which is the open space- finds itself in the middle of the building.

Elementary School Lebbeke
© Tim Van De Velde
Elementary School Lebbeke
© Tim Van De Velde

The atrium, with a span of over 20 meters between the columns, bonds the surrounding spaces. A steel grid with another rhythm and density encloses it. The structure becomes denser (6 by 8 meters) to create a frame for a set of classrooms.

Next to the street side, the grid is looser to facilitate other functions. The placing of these results in a buffer zone between the village and the school community.

CLASSROOMS AROUND AN ATRIUM

The use of the large atrium is twofold: on one side it is a gym, on the other space serves as a lunchroom.

Elementary School Lebbeke
© Tim Van De Velde
Elementary School Lebbeke
© Tim Van De Velde
Elementary School Lebbeke
© Tim Van De Velde

The atrium can be divided into two zones by a mobile partition wall. After hours it becomes a place for various children activities.

The classrooms are placed according to their hierarchy: toddlers on the ground floor, the first grade is located on the first floor, the second grade is placed in the more open corner. The highest grade is directed towards the public domain in which the oldest kids will soon have to find their place.

THE VESTIBULE  The white wall facade along the street is an outcome of the urban regulations, which state the relationship with the existing context.

Additionally, it is used to create an open in-between space, “a vestibule”. Here, between the wall facade and the structure, different early and late school activities can take place.

Elementary School Lebbeke
© Tim Van De Velde
Elementary School Lebbeke
© Tim Van De Velde
Elementary School Lebbeke
© Tim Van De Velde

It is a car free zone for waiting and arriving, for playing and observing. A place for parents and kids. A zone where you can peek into the school’s life.


Elementary School Lebbeke
Ground floor plan
Elementary School Lebbeke
1st floor plan


Elementary School Lebbeke
Section

Compagnie O Architecten bvba
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Compagnie O Architecten bvba
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