Jo Taillieu Architecten has transformed a former fruit farm in the Belgian village of Gooik into an educational centre featuring refurbished agricultural buildings enclosed within a greenhouse-like structure.
The Paddenbroek Education Centre was established by the municipality of Gooik to educate visitors about the countryside, in particular the surrounding Pajottenland region.
The facility s mission is both educational and ecological and focuses on the relationship between nature, agriculture, tourism, recreation and regional identity.
Above: a fruit farm in Belgium has been transformed into an educational centre. Top image: it is encased by a greenhouse-like structure
Jo Taillieu Architecten was approached to oversee the renovation and extension of a derelict fruit farm to create a series of multifunctional spaces that can be used for recreational activities.