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#PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE PROJECTS

Extension Metis Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam

EXTENSION METIS MONTESSORI LYCEUM, AMSTERDAM

Atelier PRO was commissioned by the Montessori School Community in Amsterdam to design the extension and renovation of theMetis Montessori Lyceum located on Mauritskade 58 in Oosterpark – one of four Montessori schools in Amsterdam. Atelier PRO was also commissioned to design the school interior of the extension.

In 1904, the building housing the Hoogere Burgerschool (HBS) was erected at the newly laid-out Oosterpark. Since then, the building, which was designed by the architect Hendrik Leguyt, has always functioned as a high school also known as Amstel Lyceum. Since August 2013, the building houses the Metis Montessori Lyceum. A major renovation of the school was carried out by atelier PRO whereby the existing building was restored to its former glory.

Oosterpark extended

The existing school building is located at the edge of the Oosterpark in Amsterdam and is constructed in the form of a square with a large plane tree in the centre. The local council has established extensive park renovations, also known as the Doubling Oosterpark project, causing the school building to be completely surrounded by greenery. As this concerns a valuable historic building, the local Bureau of Monuments and Archeology (BMA) is engaged in the project.

Currently, the north and south sections of Oosterpark differ completely from each other. The south is green and open while the north contains all the buildings including the Metis Montessori Lyceum - this part is less accessible to the public with less green. Through removing fences and creating paths through the buildings, the size of Oosterpark, as it were, would be doubled allowing it to then continue until the Mauritskade on the north side.

Reversal

Previously, all the buildings also had an entrance in the park – these have all been closed off. At the moment, the back of the Metis Montessori Lyceum faces the park; the classrooms are all orientated towards the city. With the design of the extension, the school aims to improve the organisation of the logistics towards the entrance and optimise its location beside the park: for instance, could the entrance to the park be reopened? If the current orientation would be reversed, the classrooms could then overlook the park. Along with the other surrounding buildings on the Mauritskade, the built-up and green parts of the park will soon form a cohesive whole.

Here comes the sun

The façade is fitted with striking, black perforated panels. These electrically operated panels act as sun protection and are part of the artwork 'Here Comes The Sun' by Chris Kabel. He applied 4,500 transparent glass lenses and filters in various colors in these panels. The incidence of light therefore creates a diffuse playful light effect in the classrooms. The pattern of the lenses at a distance from the building refers to the wave character and particle character of light

Extension Metis Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam

Details

  • Mauritskade 58, 1092 AD Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Atelier PRO architekten

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