LennaMare School
- Location
- Lemmer, The Netherlands
- Client
- Vario Onderwijsgroep, Zuyderzee Lyceum
- Expertise
- Architecture
- Interior Design
- Landscape Architecture
- Completion
- 2025
- Size
- 3,100 sq m
LennaMare is a public school with an education structure designed to nurture talent, develop skills and create passionate and knowledgeable young people. The new school building has been developed as a green, sustainable environment.
The new LennaMare School in Lemmer, is an exemplar educational building that redefines what a sustainable school can be. Designed as a “house in the polder,” the new home for Zuyderzee Lyceum is a landmark for the region and a model of future-focused, climate-resilient design. Commissioned by VariO Education Group and the Municipality of De Fryske Marren, the 3,000sq m school accommodates 355 students across VMBO, HAVO and VWO levels.
Its distinctive silhouette draws on the language of black wooden barns that punctuate the Frisian landscape, expressed through a bio-based façade of burnt wood and preserved softwood fins. The result is a building that feels deeply rooted in its setting while projecting a bold, contemporary identity.
At its heart, we have created a learning environment structured around two cores: a vibrant social heart and a quiet heart for focused study. Classrooms, studios and outdoor teaching spaces flow seamlessly between these centres, enabling flexible, collaborative and independent learning.
The schoolyard, polder landscape and green outdoor classrooms are integral to the architecture, reinforcing the link between education and environment.
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Sustainability was the central design driver. The building employs a timber structure, reused materials, photovoltaic panels and low-tech ventilation systems, ensuring energy efficiency, circularity and durability. Every design decision reinforces the school as both a place of learning and a living lesson in sustainability.
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“By joining forces, we can realise this beautiful, sustainable and future-proofed school building that fully supports the educational needs of the region. The design fits so well into our rural environment and we are continuing to explore ways to make the school as connected as possible local areas and nearby towns.”
“This school has evolved into something quite remarkable. It is now a building that belongs to its community while standing as a beacon of sustainable design. LennaMare demonstrates how architecture can be innovative, climate-conscious and deeply connected to its landscape and we are deeply proud to have contributed to its emergence.”
“We have delivered a school that is both inclusive and exemplary. Its parametric façades reused materials and social learning environments demonstrate how design can actively contribute to climate resilience. It is a place for students to thrive, for teachers to innovate, and for the community to see the role architecture plays in shaping a sustainable future.”