Zuiderkroon Children’s Centre

Hoogezand, NL

How to fit a large building into the child’s world?

Hoogezand

Kindcentrum Zuiderkroon

The Zuiderkroon Children’s Centre was built as part of the Midden-Groningen school programme. The starting point was to realise safe and future-proof educational facilities in an area affected by earthquakes and land shrinkage. The children’s centre is located on the edge of the leafy urban village of Woldwijck and fits in with the green character of the area.

Child-scale divisions of school space

Every child finds their own place in the heart

High windows and a raised roof bring daylight deep into the building

Ring with learning ‘squares’ with classrooms around the heart

Green views and experiences

Inclusiveness and multifunctionality are central to the design. The Zuiderkroon Children’s Centre connects a state primary school and a primary school for special education. A nursery is also included. All the spaces are linked by a central heart, into which light pours in through skylights. The 450 students are taught in high-ceilinged, bright classrooms and have their own kitchen for practical education. In addition, they have access to a technology room and two connected, ultra-modern gymnasiums.

An important design assignment was to model the location’s large programme of approximately 5,100 m² in such a way that it is perceived as attractive and more compact. Because the building volume is stepped in height and staggered in length and width, it is more in line with a child’s experience level. This creates all kinds of places, corners and spaces in and around the building where students can come together.

Zuiderkroon matches the green character of the area

The different levels are clearly visible. The bottom level has a concrete finish that makes the structure apparent. This gives the building a rugged character. The top layer is finished with handmade tiles designed in collaboration with ceramic factory Koninklijke Tichelaar. Green and blue pigments are incorporated into the tiles. Because they are glazed, they reflect the sky and surrounding trees and this combination of different types of green result in an attractive appearance in any weather.

In the design of the interior spaces, much attention has been paid to the transition between inside and outside. By means of large glass frames with doors, there is plenty of contact with the outdoors. A pergola forms the transition between the inside and the outside, so that lessons can also be given outdoors.

Careful consideration has been given to the high-quality acoustics and finishes inside. All the interior façades, stairs and ceilings are made of materials with a natural look and feel. Many different places in the interior have been designed to match the child’s scale and functionality. Rooms differ from low to high and from narrow to wide.

Situation

First floor

Second floor

Zuiderkroon Children’s Centre

De Zwarte Hond designed the Zuiderkroon Children’s Centre as a multifunctional and inclusive learning environment that brings together a mainstream primary school, a special education school, and a nursery under one roof. The building is organised around a central heart, where daylight pours in through generous skylights and creates a natural meeting space for students and staff.
High-ceilinged, bright classrooms support a calm and focused atmosphere. In addition to traditional learning spaces, the children have access to a kitchen for hands-on learning, a technology room, and two state-of-the-art gyms. Despite its size of 5,100 m², the centre feels intimate and approachable. The volume is carefully broken down to fit a child’s perspective and create a human scale.
The façade is composed of two contrasting layers: a robust concrete plinth and an upper section clad in green-blue handmade tiles, developed in collaboration with Koninklijke Tichelaar. These tiles subtly reflect the colours of the surrounding treetops, anchoring the building in its natural context. Indoors and outdoors are seamlessly connected through large sliding glass doors that open onto a pergola and playground, allowing education to extend beyond the classroom.

details

Project
Zuiderkroon Children’s Centre
Location
Hoogezand, NL
Size
5.100 m²
Period
2019-2022
Client
Gemeente Midden-Groningen
Discipline
Architecture
Program
Education
Status
Completed
Photography
Eva Bloem
Awards
  • Architectenweb Awards
    Schoolbuilding of the year
More info
bd@dezwartehond.nl