Elementary School Zarren

Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert
Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert

Elementary School Zarren 

Felt

ARCHITECTS
Felt

CONSULTANTS
Erik Geens

CLIENTS
Muncipality Of Kortemark

DESIGN TEAM
Jasper Stevens, Karel Verstraeten, Adrian Verhoijsen, Bram Denkens, Valerie Maes, Elise Candry, Jan Haerens

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Karel Verstraeten

ENGINEERING
Bas

MANUFACTURERS
Autodesk, Forbo Flooring Systems, Kone, Muuto, Wienerberger, Oliverbackground-color: rgba(176, 186, 196, 1)

LANDSCAPE
Studio Basta

PHOTOGRAPHS
Stijn Bollaert

AREA
1800 M²

YEAR
2019

LOCATION
Zarren-werken, Belgium

CATEGORY
Elementary & Middle School

Text description provided by architect.

In 2014 FELT won the competition for a new primary school and sports hall in Zarren (BE).

Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert
Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert

The site is located close to the village’s center and behind an existing 1920’s nursery school. The new school marks the intersection of a small residential area and the surrounding meadows.

The new building aims at blending in with its surroundings and is designed in tune with the adjacent nursery school.

Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert
Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert

A compact two-story volume with pitched roofs is positioned in a way it maximizes the open space. Thus creating a big playground that can extend in a public square.

The facades mimic in a collage-like way the somewhat unremarkable materials of the surrounding houses: Brick, soft pink and gray concrete and fiber cement slates.

Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert
Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert
Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert

The ceramic roof tiles are subtly lined by a playful serrated roof trim. The building itself is characterized by its rational and economic structure consisting of two wings connected by a central hall.

This renders a clear and straightforward circulation scheme. The west wing is directed towards the landscape and contains nine classrooms.

The other wing houses the more public functions such as the cafeteria and the sports hall and is directed towards the playground and the town.

Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert
Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert
Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert

A sculptural staircase with walls and ceilings in pink concrete forms the heart of the building.

It acts as a central meeting point and connects the class corridors with the sports hall (floor level) and the cafeteria (1st floor).

Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert
Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert

The pitched roofs are strongly tangible in the interiors. The colorful green sports hall and overlooking cafeteria flow into each other with their ceilings meeting in a single round column.

Dressing rooms can be found below the cafeteria, the sports hall has two big gates that provide a generous connection to the exterior playground in case of nice weather.

Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert
Elementary School Zarren
© Stijn Bollaert

The overall ambition of the architects was to create a light, transparent and homely atmosphere throughout the whole school with large glass partitions separating the corridors and classrooms. An extraordinary place to teach, learn and play.


Elementary School Zarren
Section 1
Elementary School Zarren
Section 2


Elementary School Zarren
Ground Floor Plan
Elementary School Zarren
First Floor Plan
Elementary School Zarren
Site Plan