In this episode, I talk with Thomas Drenth — an architect with extensive experience in school design in the Netherlands. A graduate of TU Delft, Thomas spent seven years at De Zwarte Hond, worked at Mecanoo, and is currently an architect at Kolpa Architecten. Over the years, he has worked on a wide range of educational buildings — from primary and secondary schools to university campuses.Together, we dive deep into the world of school architecture:

What function do schools serve beyond education?
What are the latest design tendencies and how are they shifting?
How do different pedagogical philosophies shape spatial design?

How can the school design support children, teachers, parents, and the surrounding community?

What makes the Dutch tendering process so tricky for architects working on school projects?

Chosen school projects:MFA Het Noorderhuis, Noordeloos: https://dezwartehond.nl/projecten/noorderhuis/CBS De Sleutel, Rotterdam-Zuid: https://dezwartehond.nl/projecten/cbs-de-sleutel/Gilde Vakcollege Techniek, Gorinchem: https://dezwartehond.nl/projecten/gilde-vakcollege-2/Apollo Schools designed by Herman Herzberger: https://www.ahh.nl/index.php/en/projects2/9-onderwijs/113-apollo-schoolsOpen Air Schools (Openluchtscholen): https://www.cultureelerfgoed.nl/actueel/weblogs/adviseurs/2020/openluchtscholenIconic Open Air School designed by Jan Duiker: https://hiddenarchitecture.net/open-air-schoo/Steve Jobs Schools: https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2014/oct/07/text-books-school-ipad-steve-jobs-classroomsEnjoy the listening!Klaudia

“A school is an extension of the home” - Thomas Drenth