The seemingly traditional brick cladding must not be misleading: SO Fier is a primary school that puts together a series of functional needs typical of the school type and a sensitivity to the theme of biodiversity. In this new realization in Utrecht, EVA architecten has put into play a language that articulates different materials, from brick to sheet metal, declined them in the two interconnected volumes that make up the energy-neutral building.

The façade, a ribbon that collects the spaces of the school, is divided into four bands that alternate horizontal and vertical arrangement of the bricks. Integrated into the design of the wall thickness are the nesting boxes for local bird species such as the common swift, the bat, and the domestic sparrow. The structure is then crowned by a green roof that implements the energy performance and thermal comfort conditions.

The functional program of the building includes 15 classrooms divided into clusters, a technical room, two gyms, offices for ambulatory care, and additional support spaces. The first volume gathers the classes around a patio, a meeting space for the building’s users. The second contains spaces for sports activities.