26/10/2026
How do we build a sanctuary for learning that doubles as a vibrant public square?
A completed project in the Collective Places category, Melopee School in Ghent (Belgium) by XDGA - Xaveer De Geyter Architects, transforms a narrow dockside site into an open, multi-layered vertical neighborhood.
Centered around a striking division of space—a compact interior volume mirrored by a stacked skeleton of outdoor playgrounds—the project connects primary education, childcare, sports facilities, and public paths under a single galvanized steel structure.
Rather than feeling like an isolated institution, the building embraces urban density with radical openness. It creates an environment where interior learning and exterior play overlap seamlessly, offering a tribute to the principle of the 'brede school': fostering community, shared spaces, and active public life.
The accompanying video by Kadanja captures how the raw, flexible architecture of the school fosters interaction, openness, and a deep connection between the pupils and their surrounding dockland neighborhood.
Simon Electric Fundació Mies van der Rohe Barcelona 2026 Capital Mundial de l'Arquitectura