The design challenge Old School/ New School consists of a design of a school building for 325 students with accompanied after school activities and a gymnasium in the Elandsstraat in the historic district of Amsterdam. The task includes an examination of the use of a school building. Since many schools are unoccupied after school hours, it must be examined whether the school can contribute something to the neighbourhood by providing after school activities and dual land use. In order to use the building in a sustainable manner, a minimum of 25% of the area for after school activities should be integrated in the total program of the school.

Movement is the central theme in the design. 1 in 7 children between 4 and 12 years old is too fat, that is approximately 400,000 children in the Netherlands: this is double the figure of 20 years ago.

The goal of this design is to create a positive impact on the increasingly obese youth through awareness that movement, sports and motion should be an important activity in the lives of children. In addition, mixed-use and multi-use space (full overlap of after school day-care and activities within the school program) ensures a more durable building that can accommodate multiple activities for the neighbourhood.

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