Metzo College, designed by Erick van Egeraat Associated Architects, opens its doors in the Netherlands.
Located in Duttingheim in the east of the country, this school resembles a ziggurat sanctuary with an excavated core and a garden inside.
Last week, the building won the National Architecture Prize of the Dutch School (Scholenbouwprijs) in the category of Higher Education.
We are awaiting more photos of the finished building; in the meantime, here are some photos taken last year before the landscaping was completed (update: see more photos here).
Here is the EEA statement about the school:
Duttingheimmezo School
"The new Mezo College is located in the town of Duttingheim in the east of the Netherlands and houses a vocational school and public sports facilities. The new building replaces three existing school buildings. With a total area of 16,000 square metres, the school can accommodate 1,300 students between the ages of 12 and 16. The school offers a variety of technical and theoretical courses, including health and wellness education.
"The project was launched to achieve a building that provides educational space and better social cohesion between different groups of students within the vocational training system. The integration of public sports facilities enhances the social character of the school and makes it an educational building with an unusual public character.
"The project was launched to achieve a building that provides educational space and better social cohesion between different groups of students within the vocational training system. The integration of public sports facilities enhances the social character of the school and makes it an educational building with an unusual public character.
"The building is located in an open green area. The main objective of the design was to preserve the existing open environment as much as possible. This results in a compact pyramidal structure that integrates and respects the surrounding landscape. In addition, the compact mass of the building optimises the internal planning and orientation of the building and enhances the social aspect of this type of education. The concept consists of a compact volume with six floors.
"The view is elevated so that the main entrance is on the third floor. This central location optimises student circulation within the building. From this entrance, visitors can access other public functions, such as restaurants and gyms.
"A large terrace is located above the entrance level with cut floors. The location of the terrace suspended from the ceiling allows natural light to enter the building. It also allows a clear orientation within the building.
"The gym is designed as a 'black box' and is located on the lower floor, with the entrance below the raised landscape.
"In a typical floor plan, open study areas, individual study corners and teacher workstations are located along the courtyard. Classrooms are located along the façade of the building. This results in a flexible design that simulates real-life situations. The aim is to provide a recognisable workspace for students and teachers and to allow efficient use of space with maximum flexibility.
"The result is a compact building with a strong character in the landscape. The building is attractive on the one hand and offers a sense of security on the other. "
