Kabo Beringen - Arch

At Straf!, pupils learn and play in the shadow of the old coal laundry. The existing façades are retained, and every addition is placed with restraint, so the heritage of the mine remains fully visible while the building fills with new life.

The project is situated in one of the Industrial Heritage buildings of Beringen-Mine. Part of the largest industrial heritage site in Flanders, the former bathing halls has been converted into a nursery and an elementary school with after-school care. The establishment of these schools at the former mine site helps to make it a part of the social and cultural fabric of the region.

The current focus lies on the tourist-recreational components which are be linked to the urban functions such as living, working, shopping and education.

 This new school adds a new layer and creates synergy with the recreational and educational elements already present. Moreover, it gives a protected monument a new purpose and brings children and young people into contact with the historical heritage.

In the design for the reconversion of the former bathing halls, the team based on a maximum expression of the existing building. Spatially and physically, connections are made within the existing building. An intelligent growth scenario is proposed for both the school and the exterior.

he building, which is part of the former mine site, has an enormous heritage value. The proposal for the renovation retains the existing facades and all the additions are placed in a restrained manner. In close consultation with the Agency Immovable Heritage, we designed the layout of the outside area.