Free place for BAD

"Foundation BAD is an artists' initiative based in Rotterdam, situated in a former school building.
The principle aim of BAD is to provide studios, guest studios and project spaces for artists. They enable presentations by guests as well as organizing and hosting a wide range of activities such as concerts, theatre plays, exhibitions and seminars, providing a dynamic, resourceful and continually evolving environment where creativity is supported and networks are cultivated." www.stichtingbad.nl/about-bad/about 
Project Refurbishment squatted school, Rotterdam
Client Foundation BAD & Housing corporation Vestia
Design Jurjen Zeinstra, Mikel van Gelderen
Collaborator Tom Vandeputte
Invited competition 2010



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A stern school-building from the 1950s is transformed into living and working spaces for artists. For us the building and the garden it encloses are truly free spaces with a wide variety of special places. A sustainable refurbishment should reinforce this: the building will be clad with a Czech style insulated rendered facade. The system of the existing classrooms is easily transformed into suitable spaces for living and working. Removing some walls in the hall will reinforce the public atmosphere of this informal meeting space. The guestrooms will get a specifically designed interior and will reveal the interventions by hanging bathrooms on the facade. Solar panels, solar collectors, wood pellet heating and heat pumps make the building self-sustaining. The new use as free space attacks the existing building in a subtle way by showing the individual additions like dormers, balconies, extra windows and an exposition space on top of the entry-hall.