Leefschool Eureka

A school interwoven with the landscape and the neighborhood

The existing infrastructure of GO! Leefschool Eureka was outdated and no longer suited to accommodate the growing number of students. The previous facilities, consisting of scattered pavilions and a kindergarten building, were in need of renewal and no longer met the school’s expanding needs. This led to the commission of a new, future-oriented design that not only supports the educational vision but also strengthens the interaction with the surrounding environment.

The new school building is a compact and efficient two-story structure. Strategically positioned at the front of the site, it connects seamlessly with the urban fabric, giving the school a clear identity towards the city center. At the same time, a spacious, green playground is preserved at the rear, naturally blending into the surrounding park and meadow landscape.

The architecture is characterized by a modern and functional design, with a pentagonal floor plan that optimally fits within the property boundaries. The front and rear facades feature warm wooden cladding with vertical slats, adding playful relief while emphasizing the rhythm of the windows. The side facades are constructed from prefabricated concrete elements and fitted with tension cables to support climbing evergreen plants, enhancing the building’s aesthetic integration into its green surroundings.

The design embraces the innovative teaching methods of GO! Leefschool Eureka. Instead of traditional classrooms, flexible learning environments are created, allowing for easy adaptation to various educational activities and group sizes. Open landscape classrooms and multifunctional spaces encourage collaboration and creativity. At the heart of the building is a double-height space, the ‘grand market,’ which serves as a central hub for interaction and connection. This space visually and physically links the classrooms with each other and the outdoors, thanks to large windows that provide abundant natural light. A strong connection to the green outdoor space was a key principle in the design of the new school. All classrooms have direct access to this open environment: ground-floor classrooms open directly to the outside, while upper-floor classrooms access it via canopies leading to outdoor staircases. This design approach supports the school’s educational vision, in which learning in close proximity to nature is an essential element.

A distinctive element of the design is the gymnasium on the first floor, which can also be used independently outside school hours via an external staircase. This fosters the school’s integration within the neighborhood and strengthens the sense of community.

This new building creates a sustainable and inspiring learning environment where both students and teachers can thrive.