new school building

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The Central Bohemia region is struggling with a shortage of places in stem of public education. In Stará Boleslav, the local authorities have decided to change this situation. An architectural design competition became the next challenge in the category of school buildings we participated in. The planned building for one thousand pupils has become our largest project in terms of capacity for the education sector.

Our solution took advantage of the configuration of the area and the triangular shape of the land on the outskirts of the city. By carving out a triad of segments, we created three complementary worlds. First, a world of quiet public foreground interacting with the city at ground level. Next, the world of an intimate, safe school garden, dedicated especially to younger children. And finally, the world of activity, sports, and school and public events tied to the gym and the outdoor playground. There is no need to insert fences between these worlds – the school building separates them. The building is permeable and welcoming with a simple elementary internal organisation. The building, with its structure and form, clearly acknowledges where the teaching takes place and where other activities take place outside. Viewed from the outside, it should make little difference which of the three materially constituted arms the school's client is in. The important thing is that it is always a wide-open embrace.