A New ‘Brede School’ for Puurs-Sint-Amands

As part of the masterplan drawn up by Plusoffice for the core transformation of Puurs town center, a large urban block is being restructured. On the former monastery site, a school and cultural center have organically grown together. The masterplan reorders this oversized block with a new pedestrian passage and a clear distinction between a cluster of amenities (cultural center, gymnasium, academy, school, and public garden) and a residential block for collective living around a shared garden. This future school campus building is situated at the intersection of the educational site surrounding the Kloostertuin, the future Forumstraat, and the renewed Hondsmarkt. It will house classrooms for SJABI school, as well as become a shared facility for extracurricular programs, part-time arts education, sports clubs, and more.

From an urban planning perspective, the building acts as a connecting link. This is reflected in its architecture: the base engages with the public passage, organizing flows toward the playground, the square, and the forum. Above, the building’s volume aligns more closely with the ensemble around the playground and the monastery garden, which includes the rest of the school and the renovated cultural center. The presence of schoolchildren, students from arts and music programs, and various community groups contributes to a vibrant, renewed public space.