The experience of the flexible academic place. The case of BK-City in Delft University of Technology as a spatial laboratory of a faculty of architecture

Is the design of “flexible academic place” a comprehensive solution that aims to answer the needs of the users, or, does it have the opposite effect and demand that its users adapt in order for it to function efficiently? The previous question is framed from the point of view of flexibility as a design tool, which allows the dynamic nature of the contemporary learning process to be explored for adaptable spatial models. It is assumed however, that the concept of flexibility in academic place differs during the design phase and its consequent usage. Using this as the essential premise of the paper, BK City, a building that was redesigned for the Faculty of Architecture at Delft University of Technology, is detailed as a case study. The reason for doing so is to evaluate the building as a model two years after its completion, the purpose of which was to create a spatial laboratory. The results from a survey grounded on personal experiences, suggests that the users and designers were satisfied in different ways. This satisfaction –derived not only from the final construction– was itself influenced by the very different requirements that undoubtedly needed to be taken into consideration during the different design phases.