The British School of Amsterdam | Atelier PRO architects

Atelier PRO transformed a monumental prison into a school building for primary and secondary education. To achieve this, we renovated, adapted, and expanded a classic panopticon while preserving its unique architecture. The British School of Amsterdam expressed the challenge to us, as architects, as follows: "Turning the function of a building that everyone wants to leave into a school where everyone wants to stay."

Together with heritage specialist Van Hoogevest Architecten, we repurposed the prison building into an expressive children's world, where the three schools within the BSA—Early Years, Junior, and Senior—each have their own space. At the same time, the DNA of the British School of Amsterdam as a whole remains clearly visible. What was once an inaccessible and introverted part of the city is now a lively and connected school.

A building with history

Until 2021, the British School of Amsterdam operated across three different locations in the city. Looking ahead, the BSA envisioned a single building to house its three schools, preferably in a property with character and history. This vision became a reality with the purchase of the former prison at Havenstraat 6 in Amsterdam. Designed by W.C. Metzelaar and constructed between 1888 and 1891, this textbook example of prison architecture has had varied uses over the years, including as a detention center, an artist studio complex, and a filming location for movies and series. It was also the last place where resistance fighter Hannie Schaft, the "girl with the red hair," was imprisoned—making it a site rich in history.

Connecting the schools, the neighborhood, and the city

A prison inherently has a closed-off character. In our vision, we wanted the building to awaken as part of the city. Where the old prison wall once stood, we created a schoolyard with trees—a space full of character for shaded leisure, sports, and play. The building was freed from later additions and restored as a monolith, returning the block on Havenstraat to the city.

New life for the monument

The program did not fully fit within the existing building, necessitating new construction. The former prison was designed as a panopticon, with four wings surrounding a central space. Three wings consisted of cell blocks, while the shorter, fourth wing housed facilities like the chapel. This made it logical to assign each school one wing, composed of a mix of renovated historic sections and newly built additions. The shorter wing serves as the entrance for all students, leading to the central space, which opens with double-height windows to the four wings and acts as a "crossroads" in school life.

Respectful new construction

To make the existing building suitable for education, cells were combined into larger spaces and equipped with additional windows. Extra floors and stairs were added in the atriums of the cell wings. By removing 20th-century extensions, the monument became visible again, with historical details—such as Hannie Schaft's cell—restored as faithfully as possible. The new construction features brickwork that complements the existing architecture, creating an intriguing interplay between old and new. This approach leverages the intrinsic qualities of the historic prison while introducing a fresh, vibrant atmosphere.

A Fresh school in an old prison

The educational spaces fit well within the dimensions and structure of the monument, enhancing the possibilities of the new construction. These new spaces provide a smart and sustainable design for future-proof education. They are zoned to create a natural transition between social and dynamic areas and quiet, focused learning spaces. The entire climate and ventilation system was renewed and carefully integrated into the monument to ensure a fresh learning environment.

Diverse identities united in one

The building's identity is rooted in the character of the school as a whole while also reflecting the unique personalities of its different schools, each catering to distinct age groups. Every age group has its own space, designed to support their social structures and enhance the homely, nurturing atmosphere of the British School. One cohesive British School has been created, while each school retains its distinct identity within the whole.