For the education park at Ezinge, designed by Atelier PRO architecten, Driessen + Van Deijne created a landmark design with their creative use of digitally printed glass. Called ‘The Beacon of Ezinge,’ the inspiration behind Driessen + Van Deijne’s design was the idea of a glasshouse of creativity, sending its influence to the outside world.

Both glass facades, measuring 11 x 21 meters and 18 x 21 meters respectively, feature unique but related images that speak to the key role that creativity and imagination play in this school community’s vision of education. Within the crystalline images, one can distinguish large flower and star shapes. Particularly striking are the clear and very saturated orange, pink and yellow colours.

To realize these vibrantly reflecting glass effects, Driessen + Van Deijne sought partnership with the company Si-X, a specialist in glass solutions. The designer’s drawings were digitally transferred and printed with ceramic ink. To achieve an optimal transfer of the source image and realise super-saturated colours, the team collaborated with Dip-tech, a producer of ceramic inks. Specifically suited for glass, inks from this company contain sub-micron glass particles and inorganic pigments that merge with the glass during the hardening process.

To create reflections with great colour intensity, a white backing behind the ink was used. In some areas, there is no backing, thus allowing light to penetrate.

Rohrsach spots, the symmetrical ink spots that are sometimes used to analyse the psyche were, together with Spirograph patterns, were elements that formed the basis of the design.

The building is currently open for students of the school and will officially open on November 19, 2014 in Meppel, the Netherlands.

Photography above is by Maarten Noordijk and courtesy Kunst en Bedrijf.