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THE DESIGN

The building is situated in De Bilt, in the centre of a housing estate that is made up mainly of blocks of flats and terraced houses. The primary school next to it and the existing Red Cross building (former nursery school) are the only exceptions. These buildings are centrally situated in the area, in a diagonal direction, do not function as housing and differ in size.

Initially, on the floors the shell adopts the direction dictated by the school; in the direction of the crossroads the building is curved and then, on the side of the stretch of grass at the back there is a more static façade spread over three floors.

On the ground floor the shell positions the utilities and invites the visitor in, whereas on the floors above, it encircles the closed living environment of the psycho-geriatric patient, including space outside on the roof of the ground floor.

The shell has been adapted to the scale of the surrounding area by making holes in it near the windows of the living rooms situated on the floors and near the stairwell. Then, on the ground floor the shell is brought outside, thus introducing the main layout in the internal functions.

The rest of the walls have been covered with glass. This layout makes the inside-outside relationship more subtle and emphasizes the public nature of the utilities on the ground floor.