How can a school building be connected to nature while remaining recognizably part of an urban area?
Agora Hub030
The Merwede Canal Zone (Merwedekanaalzone) in Utrecht, located between the Merwede Canal and the Europalaan, is undergoing a significant transformation. The formal industrial area and red-light district is making way for the largest car-free inner-city neighbourhood in the Netherlands. This green, healthy and sustainable environment will comprise a diverse mix of (social) rental and owner-occupied housing for first-time buyers, families, seniors and singles. On plot 12, De Zwarte Hond, in collaboration with BRIQUE Architecten, is designing a future-proof school building for 408 students. Based on the Agora educational concept of the Catholic Schools Foundation Utrecht (KSU), the design is characterized by connection with the outside world and flexibility. Agoras provide space for meeting, dialogue and exchange. Initially, two affiliated schools will share the building and its facilities, and later KSU will occupy it entirely. Each floor features an agora with direct access to the outside. Public functions are located at street level, while the gymnasium and technical rooms are situated upstairs. The inviting façade features benches and rotating sections, while closed surfaces offer tranquillity and security. High-quality greenery plays a central role, with roof gardens and green roofs connecting with the surroundings and serving as learning spaces. Rainwater is collected and reused via a retention system. The interior is modular and adaptable, featuring natural materials such as wood and flax. This creates a school building that can adapt to changing times, to the neighbourhood, and the educational system. The blue-glazed brick gives the building a distinctive identity.
data
- Location
- Utrecht, NL
- Size
- 3.540 m²
- Client
- Gemeente Utrecht
- Discipline
- Architecture
- Program
- Education
- Period
- 2023-2027
- Status
- In Development
- Partners
- BRIQUE Architecten, IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs, Galjema B.V. Technisch Adviesbureau, LBP|SIGHT
- themes
Urban development plan by BURA
Living, learning and living in the Merwede Canal Zone
Located between the Merwede Canal and the Europalaan, the Merwede Canal Zone is undergoing an impressive transformation. What was once an industrial estate and red-light district is being developed by the municipality of Utrecht into the largest car-free inner-city district in the Netherlands. This green, healthy, and sustainable living environment will feature a mix of (social) rental and owner-occupied housing, aimed at first-time buyers, families, seniors and singles. Within this neighbourhood, building block plot 12 is designated for a school building that will play a central role in the community.
Monolithic urban block
The programme above is more contained
Lively urban plinth
Openings in the plinth are more contained
Accentuation of the corner
Space for meeting and connecting
The new school building is being constructed on the corner of plot 12, where two residential buildings share a communal courtyard. The school’s design creates a recognizable end to the building block. On the north and west sides, the top floor will be set back slightly, providing additional space for the neighbouring residences and access to the courtyard.
At street level, the building is also ‘cut away’ on the east and west sides, providing air and space for the neighbouring homes. These modifications allow for two equal entrances for the affiliated schools, with a sheltered outdoor area in between for educational activities. Bicycle parking and the sports hall will be accessible via the south façade, which borders the neighbourhood square directly.
A sustainable, green school building that fosters learning
The new school building is designed to be a transparent and inviting learning environment where the indoors and outdoors are seamlessly connected. Based on the social vision of Agora education, there is space for an agora on every floor, which is directly connected to an outdoor area.
Public functions, such as the Agora learning environment and bicycle parking, are located at street level. The gym and technical rooms are located on the top floor, forming a striking corner of the building that overlooks the neighbourhood square. The transparent plinth features elements such as benches and rotating sections that encourage people to use it. In the areas designated for focused learning, the façade is calmer and more enclosed, with deep windows that nurture a sense of security.
The roof is designed as a green landscape with roof gardens. These high-quality green rooftops, featuring extensive planting, connect with the adjacent squares and can also be used for educational purposes, such as a vegetable garden near the kitchen area. Rainwater is collected and reused through a retention system, contributing to the building’s sustainability ambitions.
Flexible and future-proof: built for Agora
Designed in collaboration with BRIQUE Architecten, the interior is tailored to the flexibility required for Agora education. The main load-bearing structure consists of columns and floors, with modular wooden walls installed within this framework. These walls can be easily adapted if the educational system changes. The modules provide space for practical elements such as coat racks, shelves, benches, and lockers.
The materials chosen, including wood and flax, have been deliberately kept raw and natural to reflect the Agora’s open and adventurous character. The colour scheme is calm and neutral, allowing users to add colour and ambiance themselves. For the exterior, blue-toned, glazed bricks in a header bond were chosen, giving the building a distinctive identity. The fixed sunshades and façade benches are made of polished blue concrete, creating a cohesive and recognizable whole.
Ground floor
1st floor
4th floor
At Hub030, education and childcare come together to create an inspiring environment
