VMBO Melanchton Berkroden

The project

The pre-vocational school Melanchton in Berkroden is a widely oriented school in which the students get to know a wide range of disciplines in the job market. Technical education, healthcare and design are all represented. Here, the students are stimulated to be investigative and entrepreneurial.

The school created a structured educational environment with a minimum of hallways, with glass inner walls and the use of nicely finished materials. The choice for a concrete structure, firstly thought of because of the rationality of the building system, was eventually decisive for all aspects of the building: the free lay-out because of a floor span of 16 meters, a favorable effect on the interior climate because of the heat capacity of floors and walls, the realization of high spaces for education by leaving out lowered ceilings and displaying the rough concrete as part of the interior.

Being located on an island and visible from all sides the school needed a strong presence in its direct surroundings. On the east-side, the school functions as a landmark for the residential area Westpolder Bolwerk. On the south-side, the school connects with an industrial area with commercial and manufacturing buildings. On the north-side, the large openings in the façade provide an amazing view on the water with the landscape of the Achterdijkse Polder behind.