extension and renovation of KABK The Hague

The assignment for renovation, adaptation and extension of the KABK (Royal Academy of Art) in The Hague was gained following a European selection procedure. The assignment was particularly to merge a young monument (Buys and Lürssen, 1936) and a neoclassic building (1885) to form a functional unit, with the addition of a number of new construction volumes; this was achieved by creating a “vital line”, to which all the important communicative functions of the educational complex are coupled. The Municipality of The Hague granted the Berlage Flag award to architect Piet Grouls at the end of 1999, for the architectonic quality of the renovation and extension of this monument to New Building.
The programme of 10,800 m² (functional useful area) concerns studios and classrooms for virtually all forms of arts; there are also exhibition areas and a central library, a canteen building, workshops, office type rooms and a central hall. The complex required renovation, adaptation and extension for a limited budget.