year: 2011
client: Woningstichting Nieuwkoop & Catalpa Kinderopvang
site: Achterweg, Nieuwkoop
status: built
commission type: full commission
collaborators: Goudstikker de Vries (engineer), Stephen Webb (installation advisor), Vink + Veenman (contractor)
team: Marc van Asseldonk, Auguste van Oppen, Jurgis Dagelis

Along a dike in Nieuwkoop, a community in the Randstad's Green Heart, stands a former postal office designed by Architecten Van Mourik in the mid 1980's. Commissioned by Woningstichting Nieuwkoop and Catalpa Kinderopvang, O+A has transformed the structure into a contemporary and inspiring child day care centre.

Intense collaboration between clients and architect has led to a result exceeding expectations. In a quest for synergy, a central play kitchen was proposed: a facility and circulation space simultaneously serving as a meeting place for employees, parents, children and the neighbourhood. The released space was subsequently allocated as economically viable playing space. The enhancement of economic return across the full breadth of the project has led to a better building: amongst others, a moss roof, floor heating and a heat recuperator installation were made possible.

The DNA of the building has had to undergo a total transformation. Where the former postal and bank office was characterised by safety through fragmentation, the concept of safety has had a totally different elaboration in the child day care centre, namely one of transparency and contact. Facility spaces have been grouped into a single lucid T-shaped volume, around which the collective spaces are folded.

Due to the careful composition of the original design, alterations were made to deviate as much as possible. The necessary additional daylight entry has thus been realised through so-called 'bullet holes' in facade and roof, completely denying the original rhythm of the building.

The child day care centre was opened in January 2012.