Innovative school buildings encourage freedom of movement and opportunities for interaction that are essential for the development of children. Additionally, spacious and high-quality outdoor spaces are a crucial criterion for well-being in everyday school life.
In collaboration with SVP architectuur en stedebouw, CROSS Architecture developed a new vision for the International School Utrecht to precisely address these needs. The building brings together primary and secondary education on a flowing campus that facilitates intercultural learning both indoors and outdoors.
Laid out for a total of 1,200 children and teenagers aged 4-18, the school building with its open structure encourages interaction between different age groups and cultural backgrounds. The school building features a large entrance area accessible through two entrances. Younger children enter the building at ground level, while secondary school students access their learning area via a staircase leading to the first floor. The “traffic flow” is thus solved architecturally.
In addition to its clean form facing the city, the building creates a soft transition towards nature at the back. Through green, terraced roof landscapes, it opens up towards the Amelisweerd nature reserve. Classrooms are thus relocated to the green space, allowing indoor and outdoor activities to be seamlessly combined within the school building.
In collaboration with Copijn Landschapsarchitecten, CROSS and SVP designed an extensive outdoor area of 2,100 square metres. Amidst nature, the architecture creates open spaces for children and teenagers to explore through sports and play.
“The entrance area feels organic, open, and inviting. The design offers a beautiful combination of learning and communal spaces. All rooms seem to flow into each other and have a wonderfully natural connection with the outdoor areas and the landscape.”
International School Utrecht, Municipality of Utrecht
Competition
M. Blom, E. Führer, L. Rutten, J. van der Wal, D. van Diepen, team SVP
Copijn landscape architects
Pieters Bouwtechniek
DWA
DWA
DWA
SVP, DMOO