The diederendirrix team has been selected for the renovation and sustainability project of the Maastricht Institute of Arts (MAIA) located at Herdenkingsplein in Maastricht. Over the next few years, the educational complex will undergo significant changes to accommodate eleven art courses.

In addition to diederendirrix, the design team includes Van Eijk & Van der Lubbe for interior design and bureau Verbeek for the design of outdoor spaces. In competition with the firms LIAG and Atelier Pro, the approach of the diederendirrix team was the most highly regarded.

The MAIA accommodation consists of a collection of unique buildings. The oldest building is the former residence of Victor de Stuers. This 18th-century building not only holds value as a national monument, but De Stuers also played a crucial role in the establishment of the art academy as we know it today in the Netherlands and was a fervent advocate for monument preservation. In the 1970s, city architect Frans Dingemans designed a subtly robust structure for the art academy. The most recent addition, from the 1990s, is by architect Wiel Arets, featuring an iconic section with volumes in concrete and glass bricks.

These buildings no longer align with the educational needs of the present time. The approach of the diederendirrix team focuses on making the existing buildings more sustainable and using them more efficiently. Each building possesses distinct qualities that we cherish, resulting in a unique unity in diversity.

In the coming months, we will collaborate with Zuyd Hogeschool, MJb groep/Aronsohn Management, and Nelissen Ingenieursbureau with enthusiasm to work on this exciting task.