"THE RIGHT LOOK, THE RIGHT FUTURE"

Architect Denis Delhaise, dbv-architecten

Project Kunsthumaniora, Hasselt, Belgium
Kunsthumanoria is a secondary school with a strong focus on creative art. The school building was originally constructed in the 1960s and was suffering from an acute lack of space. An expansion program was announced and a budget was allocated for a limited first phase expansion of 2.000 m² (≈ 21,528 ft²). The school, which is located near the town’s busy ring road, is surrounded by industrial buildings and a first consideration was to make the school more visible, by creating a design that reflects the many art disciplines being taught inside: sculpture, dance, music, etc.

The winning design by dbv-architecten, uses a number of materials to create an industrial look. Trespa Meteon is used to create colorful highlights. It is applied in narrow strips of approximately 30 cm (≈ 12 in) – and in many colors - to represent the school’s focus on many different art forms.

According to the architect, Denis Delhaise of dbv-architecten, longevity was a key consideration, as the building needs to remain looking good for at least 30 years – and maintenance budgets need to remain low: “As everywhere else, education budgets are under pressure, so we cannot afford to take risks. Trespa Meteon provided us with a cost effective design solution, it also gives our client a facade that will last for many years, with the added benefit of low maintenance costs.”