Campus Drie Eiken
The structural build-up of the buildings determines much of the interior character. The smooth surfaces of the prefabricated concrete elements can be left without finish where appropriate. This concrete aspect is not only consistent with the need for a durable and robust design, it also plays into current aesthetic preferences and references the brutalism of older buildings on campus. Nonetheless, since the scheme comprises mostly residences, we aim to add a certain softness and warmth in our interiors, qualities which may be lacking in the existing education buildings.
Rooms for growth
The student rooms in the Tower and Slab blocks are fitted out in a standard manner, consistent with the operator’s other student complexes. To set these rooms apart ever so slightly, we apply a green finish to the built-in furniture. This imbues the rooms with a minimum of character; the not-so-neutral background invites the students to dress up and decorate their rooms according to their own identities and tastes.
Other interventions on upper floors are characterised by an economy of means, aimed at increasing the readability and functional hierarchy of spaces. Gypsum board dividing walls are painted white so they remain identifiably separate from the concrete structure. Floors in the Tower and Slab get either blue or yellow colour identities: doors and carpets in corridors have the same colour and so do the shared kitchens. Functional corridor lighting is applied at various angles to add a playful element.
Collective campus life
Ground floor spaces of the three buildings contain collective facilities open to all students. They are designed as an extension of the square around which they are positioned and aim to have a similar accessibility; they function like indoor public spaces, where people can meet, interact or simply relax. We materialise this continuity by using indoor floor finishes matching the colour of the outdoor brick pavers.
On the ground floor of the Tower we find a quiet space for studying as well as a cafe which extends over split levels—besides facilities such as the student coach office, delivery letterboxes and a laundry area. The concrete core is clad in warm terracotta tiles: a textured feature wall forming a warm backdrop to the bar counter in striking glossy green.
The ground floor of the Slab is dressed up as a kind of playground for adults with different creative seating arrangements in contrasting colours—such as a combination of earthy-hued tiles and fittings with cool blue walls and furniture. These interiors create a stimulating but comforting environment, inviting students to lounge and relax.
The Block building has the important communal meeting space of the “Komida” (or student restaurant) on the ground floor. Within this building we realise a spatial continuity between floors by extending the red floor of the sports hall on the top floor into the spaces below.
