In 1927 Duiker and Bijvoet were commissioned to design an open air school in Amsterdam-South, with the intention to help physically weak children gain strength aided by sun and fresh air. The school consists of a square classroom block with four levels placed diagonally on the site. This basic square is subdivided into four quadrants around a diagonal central staircase. East and west quadrants each contain one classroom per storey and share an open air classroom on the south side. The north quadrant occupies the ground floor only and comprises a staffroom. Also on the ground floor are a classroom in the west quadrant, the main entrance below the open air classrooms and an oblong gymnasium, sunken to accommodate its extra height and half tucked in under the classroom block.
The concrete columns are situated not at the corners but in the middle of the quadrants’ sides, keeping the corners free of columns and strengthening the school’s open, ‘floating’ appearance. Except for a low concrete parapet the facades are fully glazed and fitted with steel-framed pivoted windows allowing classrooms to be opened up entirely. The concrete floor slabs contain central heating pipes on the underside, fitted during the pouring process. This system of heating from the ceiling down, chosen so as to be able to open the windows in winter, was only moderately successful and was replaced in 1955. Characteristic of Duiker’s conscientious attention to detail are the coat pegs attached to the central heating pipes in the hall.
joaoslr says
In 1927 Duiker and Bijvoet were commissioned to design an open air school in Amsterdam-South, with the intention to help physically weak children gain strength aided by sun and fresh air. The school consists of a square classroom block with four levels placed diagonally on the site. This basic square is subdivided into four quadrants around a diagonal central staircase. East and west quadrants each contain one classroom per storey and share an open air classroom on the south side. The north quadrant occupies the ground floor only and comprises a staffroom. Also on the ground floor are a classroom in the west quadrant, the main entrance below the open air classrooms and an oblong gymnasium, sunken to accommodate its extra height and half tucked in under the classroom block.
The concrete columns are situated not at the corners but in the middle of the quadrants’ sides, keeping the corners free of columns and strengthening the school’s open, ‘floating’ appearance. Except for a low concrete parapet the facades are fully glazed and fitted with steel-framed pivoted windows allowing classrooms to be opened up entirely. The concrete floor slabs contain central heating pipes on the underside, fitted during the pouring process. This system of heating from the ceiling down, chosen so as to be able to open the windows in winter, was only moderately successful and was replaced in 1955. Characteristic of Duiker’s conscientious attention to detail are the coat pegs attached to the central heating pipes in the hall.
More info (and photo source): http://hiddenarchitecture.net/open-air-schoo/
Crossposted from /r/ModernistArchitecture