MVRDV founding partner Winy Maas and Theobert van Boven of Van Boven Architecten are leading the transformation of their old high school Gymnasium Beekvliet in the Dutch village of Sint-Michielsgestel. 

The main element of this design by the two alumni is a colorful, flowing addition that reaches out into the school’s plaza and improves circulation, creating a new focal point at the heart of the building. In addition, the space exhibits artwork by artist Ian Kirkpatrick throughout. 

The initial mission of the project was to renovate the existing school building. The brief also called for a new auditorium, more space for regular school activities, and additional art and culture facilities to provide students with a challenging and stimulating learning environment while offering them more spaces to gather. To meet this demand, the design extends the existing roof structure and lowers it to ground level, closing the building’s circulation routes and forming a distinct entrance. 

The swooping form of the new addition houses an auditorium that acts as a focal point for school activities, along with an adaptable stage and kitchen. The entrance is in the same location, however, the main door is now slotted underneath the curve. As per the architects: “The resulting proposal draws pupils, teachers, and visitors directly into the heart of the building and the life of the school. Painted entirely in blue, the entrance creates a 'heaven' in the school.” 

The artwork that decorates the exterior walls of the curved addition is by London-based Canadian visual artist Ian Kirkpatrick. The work illustrates the history of the school and its surroundings, along with the experiences of both current and former students. The artwork was positioned using a computer scripting technique. 

“It's fantastic to work on a building with which I have such history. This school shaped me strongly — it’s a former catholic seminary that transformed into a hip gymnasium and it gave me, coming from a small village, a cosmopolitan perspective,” said Winy Maas. “I also think it is great that memories of students, from the past and present, are represented in the mural. Actually, there is a piece of everyone in the region in this building. It really is a reflection of the whole of Sint-Michielsgestel and its surroundings.”

“I went to school at Beekvliet myself, as did one of my children, and my wife is also a teacher there. These connections strongly motivate me to design a unique and special building that does justice to the school’s rich history,” Theobert van Boven added. “The auditorium with its curved shape, the printed façade, and the view of the pond that is characteristic of Beekvliet mean that this school will now also be located in a building that matches its stature.”