NL

HKU location IBB gets status of local monument

  • 02 mei 2024
HKU’s IBB location is one of 36 new monumental sites that the local government of Utrecht has recently acknowledged as ‘young cultural heritage’. The characteristic building at Ina Boudier-Bakkerlaan 50 long hosted students of Fine Art and Design since HKU was founded in 1987. Anno 2024, it is the home of the schools Design, Music and Technology, and Games.
HKU location IBB gets status of local monument
With the relocation of the Faculty Art, Media and Technology from Hilversum to Utrecht in 2012, the IBB location became a birthplace not only for design, but games and music as well. On the second floor, multiple studios are equipped for sound in all its expressive forms, from autonomous electronic music to sound design for movies. The third floor is dedicated to games, with lots of rooms where students can collaborate on their projects. The majority of the design schools are found in the lower parts of the building, with workshops for, among others, 3D printing, creation of bio plastics and designing AR and VR applications.

Natural lighting

Despite the various reconstructions and new lay-out of the building, the appearance and outer structure of IBB Laan 50 has largely remained intact. The design is a striking example of structuralism in architecture. After architect J. van Tricht designed the blueprint in 1976, the building was erected in 1982. Typical is its concrete frame with its rigid grid system, filled with brickworks and window strips. Good natural lighting, which is important for artist, was an important aspect of this design. A quality where HKU students are still benefiting from even today.