DP6 and i29 balance old and new in overhaul of historic school in Utrecht

Dutch studios i29 and DP6 have overhauled a 20th-century school in the Netherlands, transforming it into a training institute for the Dutch Judiciary and Public Prosecution Service while honouring the building's original features. Named Courthouse Building H, the four-storey building in Utrecht has been restored to celebrate its historic character while being updated to host new educational spaces and to ensure improved sustainability performance. The project, commissioned by the Central Government Real Estate Agency, occupies a secondary school that opened in 1903, before being converted into offices for the Utrecht Courthouse in 1995. "The goal of this project was to bring back the original qualities of the historic building, showing a clear symmetrical structure, lofty ceilings and craftsmanship in detailing," i29 and DP6 told Dezeen. Visitors enter the building through the original vestibule, which has been restored, with terrazzo floors repaired and arched openings reinstated. A large suspended lighting feature hangs from the ceiling, and a glossy black front desk has been added. The entrance hall now also provides access to the green courtyard garden. The symmetrical U-shaped floorplan has been reestablished, and additional walls, suspended ceilings and fire partitions inserted during the 1990s office conversion have been removed. New meeting and educational spaces have been introduced to the plan, with classrooms and studio spaces located on the ground and first floors finished with muted green and warm yellow walls. The first floor also provides flexible social and meeting spaces, with walls finished in beige, dusty terracotta and warm coral tones. A selection of globe lights reused from the original school building features in the corridors, and are among the decorative lighting used throughout the building. "Our approach to colour, like every other decision in this project, was guided by the idea of balance between coloured and neutral surfaces," said i29 and DP6. "To emphasise different areas and functions within the building, we applied colour in a subtle way through acoustic panels and carpeting," the studios described. An existing timber staircase with slender black metal balustrades has been fully restored, reversing alterations made in the 1990s renovation when it was clad entirely in linoleum. Steps have been re-spaced and finished with wooden parquet flooring. In contrast, a new sculptural staircase has been added, made from a white folded steel plate. "Balancing old and new, the new extension of the stairs was built in a sharp geometrical shape, while the existing part was restored in its original state," said i29 and DP6. "The new staircase is airy and light in contrast to the heavy monumental staircase – it rises freely from the walls and leaves space for the beautiful stained-glass windows," the studios described. Open study areas occupy the top two floors, with new openings added to reinstate long sightlines and allow in natural light. Throughout the building, new glazed openings are finished with dark-steel frames, designed to distinguish them from original window frames, doors and panelling, which have been redecorated in their original colours. Another key objective was to improve the building's sustainability performance through a fabric-first approach. Other recent projects by i29 in the Netherlands featured on Dezeen include a compact holiday home with a green-painted timber exterior and a house cloaked in black timber with an overhanging roof. The photography is by Stijn Poelstra. Project credits: Design: i29 and DP6 Structural engineer: Pieters Bouwtechniek Delft Contractor: J.P. van Eesteren Installations: Nelissen ingenieursbureau Building cost: HI-plus Bouwadvies Restoration expert: Bureau Vlaardingerbroek Client: Rijksvastgoedbedrijf User: SSR The post DP6 and i29 balance old and new in overhaul of historic school in Utrecht appeared first on Dezeen.