Nimeto Utrecht

Nimeto is located in two buildings on opposite sides of a street. Here, subjects such as restoration, window dressing, painting and set design are taught. However, until now, the interesting aspects of these subjects were hidden behind ordinary corridors and the original beauty of the buildings was disturbed by ad hoc solutions.

The goal of this transformation was to create more space with a limited budget to accommodate the growing number of students. The architect took this thorough transformation as an opportunity to adapt the buildings to today's needs and make them more sustainable. Nimeto considers itself a school for creative space makers. In keeping with this adage, the design task was conceived as a pure exercise in making space. By purposefully leaving out and accentuating parts of the existing structure, a stage is created for the quiet qualities of the subjects and buildings.

Four new open spaces were created between and within the buildings. Here students can find practice rooms, places to relax and even a schoolyard. It brings light and air into the buildings and makes it easier to find your way around. Meetings now happen in these open spaces, rather than in the lifeless corridors of yesteryear. It inspires students, faculty and visitors to look beyond their own fields. Each of those open spaces has a clear outline, a kind of frame, that emphasizes the space and the activities inside. That's really the only major change that has been realized.

The rest of the building has been transformed into an open learning environment with minimal interventions. Students now have the freedom to choose their own workspace. The diversity of subject areas and building sections created an array of spaces, which is interesting but sometimes a bit chaotic. But by using the common areas as something that connects everything, the balance has been restored. Everywhere you look, you see students at work. The school now truly resembles a bustling workshop. You can smell the scent of wood, someone is painting, another is building a chair, and groups of students are working together on big projects. The project will be completed in the summer of 2023.