Scandinavian & Dutch concepts combine to create new educational facilities

The first of four school projects in the Netherlands designed by Tenderstream member Christensen & Co has completed, created in collaboration with NEXT architects. MY college in Spijkenisse offers courses in cookery, health, and the arts, with the new building providing opportunities for creative expression, alongside smaller study rooms for deep concentration and traditional classrooms for general theory. 

Marijn Schenk, partner at NEXT architects, stated: “The collaboration between Christensen & Co and our office NEXT architects fostered the creativity and energy of all stakeholders by marrying the knowledge and resources of both offices into a new successful vision and design for MY college.” The collaboration between the two firms extends across three more educational projects, which unite Scandinavian design concepts with the local approach to education and learning, as well as incorporating innovative materials and building techniques developed in the Netherlands.

The Children’s Centre in Atolwijk, Lelystad, will integrate two elementary schools, a daycare centre, and a gymnasium. Developed through extensive collaboration with its users, the resulting architectural expression takes the form of a rotated pavilion, providing extensive views. The façade is constructed from recycled plastic, drawing inspiration from the playful nature of tree leaves, with tiles replicating their tone and size. The new educational expertise centre for Koninklijke Auris Groe in Rotterdam will also combine several facilities, hosting a school for deaf children, as well as providing facilities for care and outpatient services. The building materials are heavily focused on the sensory experience of the users, while the architecture embraces transparency and openness to support the children’s well-being. 

In Utrecht, an inclusive children’s centre is planned for the Cartesius neighbourhood, hosting a primary school, daycare facility, and sports centre. The compact, nature-inclusive, and future-oriented building will situate the combined programme into one flowing spiral movement around a green heart. The architecture supports childhood development through different age phases, with the building itself playing a pedagogical role by providing opportunities to learn through exploration, including indoor hills for climbing, caves to create a sense of safety, and lookout points from which the older children will be able to view the city.

Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research

The tenders for these projects were published by Tenderstream on 13.03.2020, 26.04.2022, 17.04.2024, & 20.05.2022

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