The PIKOH School of Arts in Hasselt, Belgium, has completed construction of a groundbreaking new educational facility designed by BOT architektuurcollectief in collaboration with Import Export Architecture. The 5,000-square-meter, five-story building serves the growing needs of students pursuing secondary education in visual arts, media, and performing arts, featuring specialized classrooms, workshops, a restaurant, multipurpose hall, sports facilities, and administrative offices.
The new structure is strategically positioned as part of the broader transformation of the "Elfde-Linie" city campus, which draws inspiration from the American Campus Model. Located 40 meters from the Demer River, the building takes advantage of its proximity to both the waterway and Kapermolenpark, which serve as natural anchors for the campus layout. This positioning allows for a generous green playground space while maintaining strong connections to the surrounding natural environment.
The architectural design embraces the site's existing topography through a series of indoor and outdoor staircases that connect various school buildings and function as informal meeting places for students and faculty. The building's architecture directly reflects PIKOH's progressive educational philosophy, creating a hybrid learning environment filled with natural daylight and featuring an open structure that eliminates traditional corridor layouts. This design approach promotes interaction and collaboration throughout the facility.
The interior organization prioritizes flexibility and connection, with theory classrooms and art studios placed on the same levels to encourage cross-disciplinary interaction. The classroom floors are organized into "learning nests" - clusters of three classrooms strategically located at the building's ends. The south side features "innovation clusters" specifically designed to support co-teaching methodologies, while the north side accommodates more traditional learning spaces for focused individual study.
Along the building's longitudinal façades, glazed technical workshops and open art studios enhance visibility and connection between different areas of study. At the heart of the building, a central "forum" serves as a multifunctional space that can transform into a meeting point, exhibition area, open studio, or debate zone depending on daily needs. The open floor plan creates dynamic learning landscapes where functions flow seamlessly, enabling a fluid student experience throughout the day.
The upper floors house specialized spaces for sports, dance, and theater activities, all arranged around a central agora that serves as a gathering point for performances and events. The design takes direct inspiration from the archetypal industrial artist's studio aesthetic - emphasizing sober, robust, and adaptable spaces that can accommodate various artistic pursuits. The transparent ground floor offers panoramic views of the surrounding park and playground areas.
The building's distinctive concrete cross-columns lend the structure a strong architectural identity while providing necessary structural support. Aluminum cladding gives the façades a subtle shimmer that helps the building blend harmoniously with its green surroundings. Human-scale horizontal windows, arranged in a precise 1x1-meter grid pattern, provide carefully framed views of the landscape and reinforce the building's strong connection to its natural context.
The project team included architects Joris De Belie and Pieter Rubens from BOT architektuurcollectief, working alongside Oscar Rommens, An Van der Veken, and Marieke Stappers from Import Export Architecture. Technical expertise was provided by MoMenting for structural engineering, Raco by Studibo for technical engineering, PS-Acoustics for acoustic design, and Studio Basta for landscape architecture. The building was completed in 2025 and photographed by Jeroen Verrecht, showcasing how contemporary educational architecture can successfully integrate artistic education with sustainable design principles.
