Edith Stein College
Edith Stein College
Edith Stein College
Hidden gem in the city center of The Hague
Design
The Edith Stein College was founded in 1915 as a Catholic School for Girls and has been housed on Couperusplein in a building by Mr. Henri Thunnissen since 1931. This building no longer met the requirements for contemporary education. In 2012, it was decided to demolish part of the building but to keep the characteristic chapel and its annex and integrate it into the new building. The renewed Edith Stein College offers students a familiar but also challenging educational environment. It is located in the city center of The Hague, at the end of the beautiful Louis Couperu Square. A stately square in The Hague flanked by characteristic buildings from the Interwar period, including the former Billiton building by Co Brandes, built in the style of the New Hague School. A stately and compact educational building has now been rebuilt here. Due to its compactness, there remains plenty of space on the school's lot for sports, games, gardening, green experiences and outdoor education. A new educational environment that offers students from different neighborhoods in The Hague a home in this special place.
Initial studies showed that the deepening and integration of the gymnasium with the new building would result in the most compact building volume possible. Moreover, the gymnasiums are thus part of the school. The roof of the gymnasiums creates a 'stage' on which the various educational departments are stacked. In terms of level, these are thus in line with the most beautiful space and the new heart of the school: the auditorium located in the chapel. This will be housed in the existing chapel of the current educational building, which will be preserved and integrated with the new building. The various departments for HAVO/VWO, MAVO and substructure, successively, are thus never further than one and a half steps away from this auditorium. This makes the most beautiful space in the existing building the central “treasure trove” of the future complex. Due to its connection with the canteen, the auditorium is suitable as a meeting room for shows and parties, for example. The transparent design turns the canteen into a festive foyer in front of the auditorium. The auditorium has a theater stand, a piece of furniture that flows into the media room, which can also be used as a control room.
School gate
The handling of the logistical traffic flows through the building was an important design starting point. To better guide these flows to and from the building (students cycling were previously led around the building to the back), the school has a wide gate or passage on the axis of Louis Couperus Square. For example, students coming from the Mauritskade immediately go to the green playground on the south side. The volume above the gate acts as a connecting bridge: an intermediary between the new building and the chapel. This part of the building has a transparent appearance that includes the canteen. The introduction of the gate creates a clear urban marker at the end of the axis of Louis Couperus Square. The part of the building with the old entrance to the school has also been maintained. The original entrance serves as a formal entrance for visitors and parents and as an evening entrance to the gym. At night, the passage is closed with a decorative gate.
The gate plays an important role in the recognition and settlement of student flows. Once inside, the routing through the building is clearly organized across the central axis of the building. In addition to connecting the building parts, the bridge above the gate is also the beginning of the route that connects the various departments. The steps in the bridge also have a meeting function and can partly be used as seating elements or stands. Because split-level levels between the chapel and the new building converge ingeniously in the bridge and a walk-through elevator are used, all areas in the building are wheelchair accessible.
Architecture
In terms of articulation, color perception and use of materials, the building is in line with the environment and the architecture of the Delft School of the original buildings and the preserved chapel. The pattern of horizontal façade bands with vertical windows articulated with staggered masonry surfaces is characteristic. The volume above the gate acts as an intermediary between the new building and the chapel. Here, a balance was sought between transparent glass surfaces and vertical bands of decorative concrete and masonry. The bronze anodized frames and panels give the whole thing a dignified and contemporary look. In the image, the existing chapel retains the leading role in the new ensemble of old and new buildings.
Terrain
Sports together is the theme that a number of active teachers have given when setting up the outdoor space. Movement is the main engine here. The physical education lessons offer a good basis, but it has also been found that students are encouraged to exercise more if you offer them the opportunities to do so. Together with students, two basketball courts, a football field and a square where a number of table tennis tables can be placed, were therefore chosen for the new site. A hill connects school and grounds and acts as a grandstand. From here, you have a great view of all sports & games. These fields are connected by a path that can be used for athletics, among other things. A great place to prepare for the annual joint participation in the CPC (City Pier City). These sports facilities can be used for physical education lessons as well as when meeting during breaks and before and after school. The aim is also to improve students' health, not only by exercising more but also by paying more attention to their eating and drinking habits. For this reason, there are water taps at the sports fields. And is there the dream to plant fruit trees in the near future and create a school (vegetable) garden to put biology lessons into practice.
