Music School at the Glass Palace

Both architects Arets and Coenen were born in Heerlen, and became interested in the 'old master' Fritz Peutz who had designed the next-door Glasspaleis (Glass Palace) in 1935. While they were working on the refurbisming the Glass Palace, they found an ingenious solution for the Music School: a new building, separate and yet connected. Together with Buro Bouwkunde they build this in a joint venture (ABBC). There are reminders of the Glass Palace in the design: it is shaped like a projecting mushroom and the walls (and roof) are clad with small glass panels. Hallways link up underground, and there is a sunken courtyard. The lower wall continues from the outside to the inside. There is also an undergrounnd dance studio, and a number of 'suspended' classrooms on the Pancratius square side of the building. The huge windows reflect the surrounding buildings, and because they are placed at an angle, they also mirror the old church tower.