Multifunctional Community School Zuiderkwartier, Tilburg

a new centre


for the neighbourhood

Multifunctional Community School Zuiderkwartier, Tilburg

The transformation of Tilburg from a conglomerate of textile industry related villages to a modern university city entails the revitalization of outdated residential districts, like Zeeheldenbuurt. Architect office De Zwarte Hond drew up an urban development plan that envisages the creation of varied housing environments around a new heart with a green square next to the familiar church. A new Multifunctional Community School, an institute for Mental Health Care (GGZ) and three apartment blocks have been built facing this square, all designed by atelier PRO.


The Multifunctional Community School, the church, the adjoining presbytery and the former nunnery combine to create an entity in terms of function and urban planning. The L-shaped Accommodation, the nunnery and a wall surround a green courtyard. Although the courtyard is enclosed, there are apertures and large openings between the buildings, functioning as gigantic windows into the green playground behind.


The programme of the Multifunctional Community School is quite extensive and involved a neighbourhood centre, kindergarten, primary school with thirteen classes, apartments and work and leisure facilities for people with a handicap, and even a psychiatric health centre (GGZ). The combination of independent functions and a sense of community has been given architectural form by hollowing out and ‘eroding’ the building from the inside and the outside and then linking these hollows and incisions by means of a clever system of corridors and stairs. It is like taking a bite from an apple. As a result, the Multifunctional Community School has many different spaces waiting to be discovered.

  • Petra Appelhof
    nightview
  • Petra Appelhof
    nightview
  • Petra Appelhof
    nightview
  • Petra Appelhof
    facade from street
  • Petra Appelhof
    facade from square
  • Petra Appelhof
    playarea
  • Petra Appelhof
    square between dwellings and MFA
  • Petra Appelhof
    Hallway
  • Petra Appelhof
    info desk
  • Petra Appelhof
    upstairs
  • Petra Appelhof
    stairs
  • Petra Appelhof
    Hallway
  • Petra Appelhof
    classroom
  • Petra Appelhof
    balustrade
  • Petra Appelhof
    Hallway
  • Petra Appelhof
    facade
  • Petra Appelhof
    GGZ exterior
  • Petra Appelhof
    square
  • Petra Appelhof
    big windows lots of light
  • De Zwarte Hond
    situation
  • atelier PRO
    Location