IKC Zeven Zeeën

In Banne Buiksloot in the north of Amsterdam the general building fabric consists of high apartment blocks. In contrast the public buildings do the opposite. They form a network of low buildings that seek a strong connection to the public domain. The new 2 storey primary school, designed by the architect Gianni Cito of the Amsterdam office Moke Architecten, does the same. The school stands out due to its crenelated shed roof and the tribune stairway that connects the school with the playground. The playful round windows and the red scaly façade give the building an autonomous expression that fits its public role.

An IKC is an integral kids centre and it offers a place for kids from 0 until 12 and for their parents. Besides the school the building also accommodates a childcare centre and a parents room. The wide corricors with calm colours suit the educational philosophy of the Dalton school. The school strongly relies on individual initiative of its pupils. It offers a large variety of working places for individual and group work. The use of wood for the window frames between the corridor and the classrooms, the ceiling and all integrated cabinets strengthens the soft and natural expression of the interior. Both cabinets and ceiling have a noise-reducing surface.

The building is one of the first completely energy neutral schools in the Netherlands. The double prefab concrete façade in combination with high spaces and predominantly northern light, strongly reduce the warming up of the spaces during daytime. During the nights the room temperature drops in a natural way. Therefor the building is cooled naturally, which reduces the use of energy. The shed roof is covered with 324 PV-panels.

City of Amsterdam Noord

Moke Architecten
Architect: Gianni Cito
Team: P. de Weerd, V. Falconi, N. Leszczynska

Structural engineer: Pieters Bouwtechniek
Environmental engineer: Merosch
Quantity surveyor: Boshuizen Bouwadvies