09/05/2017
Tucked away amongst the facades of Ghent lies the 140-year-old Sint-Lievenspoort Convent of the Sisters of Charity. The convent is an imposing neo-Gothic complex. Until recently, it was a dilapidated building with a cluttered courtyard. But since 1 September 2016, the convent has been transformed into a light and (multi)functional school building.
BuBaO Sint-Lievenspoort is an independent primary school providing special needs nursery and primary education (types 7 and 9). The school therefore offers adapted education for children with language disorders, autism spectrum disorders and hearing impairments – pupils with special needs. And so, a school building with special requirements.
Evr Architects, together with Callebaut Architects and contractor Van Laere, realised this special project.
These are the most striking transformations:
The courtyard immediately demonstrates that history and new construction go hand in hand. Over the years, the cloister courtyard had become completely built up. One of the architects’ most fundamental interventions was to completely open it up: the former refectory was demolished to make way for a multi-purpose hall and an open outdoor space. This improves circulation and, at the same time, gives the school a more airy feel, thanks to the large amount of glass in the multi-purpose hall and the added walkway.
The multi-purpose hall can host a wide range of activities: from physical education lessons and meetings to small events both within and outside the school context. It can therefore be reconfigured to suit the intended use: the hall features large spans, meaning the structure imposes no restrictions. Here too, considerable attention has been paid to ensuring good acoustics. Wood wool cement boards have been installed between the concrete beams, with integrated LED lighting. Furthermore, plenty of daylight enters the space, thanks to the double-height windows and the skylight.
Surrounded by lancet arches and pointed arches, you will find the roof playground. Thanks to this additional playground, the available outdoor space is utilised to the full.
Given the enclosed nature of this roof playground, a group of pupils can play here separately from the other children. This makes them feel more secure and reduces the number of stimuli they have to process.
A striking feature in the middle of the playground is the roof dome of the multi-purpose hall below. As well as providing extra natural light in the multi-purpose hall, the skylight also serves as an additional play feature on the roof playground. The children are already making good use of it with their pavement chalk.
Finally, the green roof forms a peaceful boundary and, at the same time, an additional green element in this urban environment.
This corridor leads to a classroom and the gym. Incidentally, the floor covering is a different colour on every floor.
Here you are in the new walkway attached to the existing external façade. Once again, you find a combination of old and new, of neo-Gothic and a modern, industrial style. The walkway contributes to smooth circulation within the square school building.
Good acoustics are always important in classrooms, as noise has a major impact on the comfort of pupils and teachers. At this special needs school, class sizes are small (an average of 5 to 12 pupils), but the acoustic requirements are much stricter. That is why acoustic ceiling panels were used, which can absorb sufficient sound within the existing architecture to create a comfortable environment. It has since become clear that teachers can hear the pupils more clearly and that the pupils feel more at ease. All classrooms are also equipped with projectors or smartboards.
The gym is located in the former chapel and is the showpiece of this new school. The painted wooden vaults were preserved and restored as the ceiling. To enable it to fulfil its new function, ventilation was installed, a sports floor was laid, and the fixed equipment (e.g. climbing frames, basketball hoops, etc.) was provided by the contractor as part of the initial fit-out.
Here too, measures were taken to improve the acoustics. The additional desk and storage space that has been created consists of acoustic materials. On the other side of the gym, a new walkway was installed in the former choir area, leading to the relaxation room.
You reach this additional floor via the walkway in the chapel/gymnasium. Thanks to the low ceiling and the small pointed-arch windows, this space is perfectly suited as a quiet or relaxation area for the pupils.
Here too we find the impressive, original wooden ceiling with painted ornamentation. The mood lighting and the soft, sound-absorbing carpet enhance the sense of security in this space.
