View in the inner courtyard

Living apart together

Competition for a redevelopment of an existing school area into a housing ensemble

The municipality of Waalwijk selected six national developer/architect teams to envisage an urban vision for the redevelopment of De Walewyc School location into a specific, differentiated and high profile living environment.

Situation Plan
Situation Plan
Original elevation drawings of the  entrance side of De Walewyc school
Original elevation drawings of the entrance side of De Walewyc school

In order to fulfil this ambition, we found it essential to reconsider the municipality’s suggestion to demolish the existing school buildings. De Walewyc School is an icon of post-war reconstruction architecture in a surprisingly good and original state. Besides the cultural and historical value, a building’s potential for future uses should determine the choice for demolition or conversion. The former school’s urban situation, its transparent architecture, high ceilings and internal layout create the premises for a unique housing ensemble with spatial qualities difficult to match nowadays.

Family of buildings - sketch by Bakema
Family of buildings - sketch by Bakema

Scheme

Our proposal preserves the school’s three original buildings and adds four new ones around the former schoolyard. The building volumes form a permeable ring of solitaires that – together with the row of existing trees – define the limits of a public park (the former schoolyard). The volumes are positioned in such a way that the park is visible and accessible from the surrounding neighbourhood without losing its strong definition. By replicating the existing volumes’ DNA into the new ones, a family of buildings is created. This family has two generations, three volume sizes and several housing typologies, derived from each building’s specific orientation. The building solitaires are imbedded in an archipelago of green islands, consisting of public green, private gardens, and parking pockets. The green islands manifest themselves beyond the ring of buildings towards the surrounding streets, emphasizing the park-like character of the entire development.

Family of typologies on site  - model
Family of typologies on site - model

Ground floor plan and landscape archipelago scheme of the  common space

Living apart in the different building types and together in the exterior common space
Living apart in the different building types and together in the exterior common space

The School

 

Additions to the school
Additions to the school

The existing school lends itself perfectly for appartments. Luxurious high ceilings, a corridor to the north and large windows to the south. Simply adding balconies and (roof)gardens to the building is enough to convert the school building into a rich collection of different typologies.

School New Floorplan

View of the school
View of the school

The Row Houses

Back to back housing
Back to back housing

The row houses are designed as back to back houses. Each floor flips to the other side of the block, creating houses that are orientated towards the park as well as the street.

Mirroring floor plans

View of the row houses
View of the row houses

The Block

Urban villa: Helix houses
Urban villa: Helix houses

The small blocks are designed as helix houses: each floor of the house jumps to the other corner, creating houses that touch each corner of the block: 360 degrees orientation towards the park as well as the street.

Rotating floorplans

View towards Helix house
View towards Helix house

The Tower

Apartment tower: day and night house
Apartment tower: day and night house

The apartment tower is dived in two halves: a closed part that houses the night program and an open part, orientated towards the park and the sun, that houses the day program.

Floorplans

View towards the tower
View towards the tower

Credits

  • Assignment

    Competition for a redevelopment of an existing school area into a housing ensemble

  • Year 2011
  • Client

    Municipality of Waalwijk

  • Location Waalwijk (NL)
  • Program Housing ensemble
  • Status competition
  • Prizes
    • Second prize
  • Team
    • Thijs van Bijsterveldt
    • Oana Rades
    • Harm Timmermans
    • Pieter Heymans