Stedelijk Gymnasium Haarlem
Commissioned by the Stedelijk Gymnasium in Haarlem and ICS adviseurs, Hollandse Nieuwe developped a structural design transforming and modernizing the school. These monumental buildings located in the center of Haarlem have a rich history of several renovations and extensions. This made the transformation of the school a challenging project. The relationship between history, education and the future underpinned the radical but necessary transformation. A careful analysis of the history of the buildings and the new requested program has led to a vision in which certain existing elements have been carefully removed or changed. This made the original architecture readable and clear again.
To realize the required extra surface area, we have added a simple, restrained building volume behind the main entrance of the building. These four new floors not only add breathing space to the requested PVE, but also form a new (green) heart in the school. The large void centralizes the flow, connects all three buildings and provides space for new forms of studying and teaching that make the Gymnasium future-proof. This new heart brings together light, greenery, air, student, teacher, staff and the history of the place.
