Ambachtsschool Zwolle

Residential
Public
Transformation
Restoration
Sustainability

The former technical school ‘Oude Ambachtsschool’ in Zwolle has been repurposed into starter homes and studios. The national listed building by architects Baart and Krook dates from 1934 and has been sustainably renovated and transformed into a contemporary residential-commercial complex.

The building consists of two wings, each three storeys high, which are located at right angles to each other, meeting in a central staircase. The outside corner is the location of the formal entrance, whilst the inside corner was the original pupil entrance. Both wings have central corridors with classrooms either side. On the ground floor, the classrooms have been repurposed into studio spaces. The first and second floor now house starter homes: spacious, tall and bright classrooms with a fixed core of sanitary and kitchen facilities.

Design: 2007-2008
Client: Woningstichting SWZ - DLH Ontwikkeling
Location: Zwolle
Delivery: 2010

Main entrance for delivery

Fragment of richly detailed facade

To enhance the comfort of the homes, a second façade has been added to the original steel façade. The appearance of the façade is thus retained, while the accommodation is protected from sunlight, noise and heat loss. The original function of the building is still visible in the monumental staircase and the spacious corridors. The building has been restored to be future-proof - energy use has been greatly reduced, sustainable energy is produced using thermal energy storage and a ground source heat pump. In addition, sustainability has been a high priority in the selection of materials and detailing.