The roof as the heart of the school: this is how Tangram utilises every metre
In the city, space is never a given. Especially not for children. While the need for safe playgrounds, healthy outdoor space and connection is actually greater than ever. In Vilvoorde, near Brussels, they have turned that challenge on its head. Literally.
At Tangram, the new primary school on Broekstraat, the playground is not on the ground floor, but on top of the building. Here, the roof is not a technical capstone, but the beating heart of the school. A place where pupils learn, play, move and meet. And where the city shows: roofs can be so much more than empty space.
Smart puzzling with space
Tangram Vilvoorde is no ordinary school. The building, designed by DMT Architects, is based on the classic puzzle game in which separate forms form a whole. This philosophy can be seen everywhere. In the flexible classrooms, the playful layout, the striking red slide and, of course, on the roof.
The building accommodates 240 pupils aged 3 to 14. But despite that compact footprint, there is plenty of room for sports, games and recreation. How? By making smart use of the height.
Playing at heights: safe, healthy and playful
On top of the school you will find a multifunctional roof square. Not a bare concrete surface, but a lively place where children can play, move and congregate safely. The bright red slide winds down from the roof - not only as an eye-catcher, but as a literal playful element connecting the floors.
On the roof is room for: ✔ Free play and romp at height ✔ Outdoor lessons, creative activities and interactive workshops ✔ Meeting between different age groups ✔ Greenery and natural resting points Climbing, clambering and sliding
The result? A roof that not only gives space back to the school, but also to the neighbourhood. And that lets children move and learn without the need for additional ground surface.
Roofs as a playground in their own right
What makes Tangram unique is how naturally the roof is part of everyday use. It is not an optional extra or a prestige project, but a functional and playful extension of the school.
Architecturally smart, socially strong:The roof paving is executed with Zoontjens' durable Dreen®Nxt system. This material, finished in the colour Cass Light Grey, offers stability, is safe for children and easy to maintain. Tangram was also the first project in Belgium to apply this innovative system.
The stepped structure of the building also contributes to safety and accessibility. The different levels create a logical circulation and playful experience, with the roof square literally at the heart of the school.
"When you are short of space, you have to dare to think differently. In Vilvoorde, they do just that."
More than bricks: social value
Tangram Vilvoorde shows how multifunctional roofs have social impact. Especially in urban areas where space is scarce.
The roof contributes to: ✔ More safe and accessible outdoor space for children ✔ Health and exercise as a natural part of the school day ✔ Climate adaptation and greening in a petrified environment ✔ Social encounters, also outside school hours ✔ A recognisable and positive image for the district
This way, the roof is not only used, it is experienced. By children, parents and local residents. Tangram proves: roofs are part of everyday city life.
What can we learn from this?
Roofing opportunities are also up for grabs in the Netherlands and Flanders. New schools, sports halls and community centres are being built, but are we really taking advantage of the height?
Imagine:
- School roofs as green, healthy playgrounds
- Sports fields and climbing frames on top of gymnasiums
- Greening roofs to combat heat stress and flooding
- Roofs as places for meeting, relaxation and exercise
Tangram shows that it can be done. Functional, secure, inspiring and future-proof.
Splay, learn, glide and connect
In Vilvoorde, they have understood. Where others see limits, at Tangram they puzzle on. The slide, the roof square, the smart architecture: it's an invitation to think differently about space. About education. About the city.
Because a roof is not a limitation. It's an opportunity. For more vitality. For healthy, playful and liveable cities. And above all: for children literally getting the space to grow.