Two light and dynamic buildings in dialogue on green secondary school campus

At Argonautenweg 53–55 in Rotterdam, a new secondary education campus has been realised to accommodate the Wolfert Dalton school and the secondary department of Mytylschool De Brug. Architecture and landscape were designed as an integrated whole from the start, resulting in the optimal integration of the buildings within their green surroundings. The plan comprises two dynamically shaped, light buildings, differing in scale and each with its own character, yet clearly belonging to the same family. On this landscaped campus, students with and without disabilities can meet and learn from one another.

Two secondary schools share green campus in Hillegersberg-Schiebroek
In 2019, the Municipality of Rotterdam, in collaboration with Stichting BOOR, launched a European tender for the architecture and landscape design of a distinctive project: two secondary schools, one for Dalton education and the other for special education. For both schools, the development of a new building presented an opportunity to support their educational vision and translate their identity into architecture. A key aspect of the design is the spatial setting of the two buildings: each with its own place, but within a shared campus where joint activities are possible.

Both schools were closely involved in the design process. For Wolfert Dalton, spatial quality and a wide diversity of learning and relaxation areas were essential. A building with a balanced sense of openness, security and belonging, where students are seen and known. Mytylschool De Brug provides education for students with physical disabilities and/or long-term illnesses. Guided by its motto, ‘Special where necessary, ordinary where possible’, independence was a key theme, alongside the ambition for students to feel part of society.

De Brug expressed a wish for all learning, rehabilitation and care facilities to be located on the ground floor of a light, spacious building with ample practical space, allowing students with physical and/or multiple disabilities to move independently and find their own space.

Dynamic and light buildings engage in dialogue
Together with Bureau B+B, DP6 designed a green campus where two dynamically shaped, light buildings engage in dialogue with each other and with the landscape. Designed to address their surroundings on all sides, the spacious buildings present a soft and inviting appearance, defined by rounded corners and a high degree of transparency. All classrooms enjoy views of the surrounding greenery, and the connection between inside and outside is particularly emphasised in the assembly halls, which face each other across the school playground and courtyard. For the 800 students of Wolfert Dalton, the hall includes stepped seating, a sunken study area and an open learning centre, while for the 70 students of Mytylschool De Brug, the light-filled hall is centrally positioned within the building and integrated with the library.

The rounded corners and transparency of both buildings continue into the interiors. This results in clear and inspiring learning environments that also provide a strong sense of comfort and safety. In both buildings, the sports halls are located on the upper floor. At De Brug, this has the advantage that students only need to use the lift during physical education classes. For the rest of the school week, all activities take place on the ground floor, enhancing independence.

Landscape
The campus features a variety of accessible spaces for meeting people, playing sports and studying together, as well as for outdoor classes during fine weather. The landscape shares the same dynamism and design language as the buildings, with squares, sports facilities and seating islands arranged around the vegetation. By preserving the existing healthy trees, planting 87 new trees, expanding the water features and introducing natural banks, a truly green campus has been created.

Traffic flows and parking spots for cyclists, cars and minibuses are kept separate and carefully integrated into the design. As a result, the landscape between and around the buildings remains entirely traffic-free, providing a high-quality environment for users. Students of Wolfert Dalton access the campus via the slow-traffic bridge leading directly to the indoor bicycle parking and main entrance, while the students of De Brug, most of whom arrive by minibus, step out beneath the canopy that connects both buildings and leads directly to the entrance. During the day, the minibus parking area can also function as a sprint track during sports lessons or breaks.