Primary school Křižná - gym extension

THE SPACE THAT'S MISSING. THE HEART OF THE SCHOOL. To find a way to retain the existing qualities of the generous outdoor garden space, whilst using the existing school buildings to create a quality space that enhances the whole site. We see the commissioning of a new hall as an opportunity with the potential to use such a large investment to build more than just one sports building. Our ambition is to create a comprehensive campus where the new building will become a natural part of the whole organism, bringing unprecedented quality for spending time outdoors and indoors, during and after school and for all visitors, not only to sporting events. THE HOUSE THAT CANNOT BE SEEN. Instead of building on a green field in the garden, we propose a house that organically grows into the overall structure of the school campus. Instead of another pavilion with a local quality, we create an organism of intercommunicating spaces that changes the overall image of the school. Instead of neutral materials and colours, we emphasize the local and use details to materialize Wallachian ornaments. By combining these principles, we create a unique space, hidden at first sight between the buildings. The architecture of the house, set in a pavilion urbanism, is deliberately free from formal complexities. The variety of outdoor spaces is determined by the existing composition of the buildings, which we work with and develop its qualities into a varied world of atriums, gardens and terraces.

The proposal brings change to the entire Křižná Elementary School campus. The location of the sports hall right in the middle of the layout creates a wide range of opportunities and new potentials to turn a rather outdated building with many unclear corridors into a functional and modern unit. Suddenly you see a different school that stands up to the new buildings. So the main potential of the proposal is change that does not shy away from solving existing problems. This proposal for the extension of the gymnasium is the only one that has managed to preserve the playground and the garden with grown-up trees, and this decision gives a decent scope for a refined landscape solution, which at this stage is only offered in hints, which, however, have their logic. The design also allows for phasing and is sensitive to the existing trees. Access to the roofs is a very important part of the project and a big change for a school with previously predominantly internal pupil movement. Thus, another potential of the proposal is to work with all corridors and to significantly improve the internal environment for pupils who have been moving in unclear corridors. This change to the status quo will logically translate into the changing rooms, the canteen and can also better define the entrance and the school lobby. The placement of features such as the library, computer lab, recreation room should also follow this change and support the overall concept to create the heart of Krizna Elementary School. The proposal thus has a huge added value - to make the most of and improve the existing site into a modern vibrant complex with a quality indoor and outdoor environment that will inspire future generations.

The design of the gym is based on the original pavilion structure of the school. In this sense, the extension is located in a north-eastern position, on top of the current athletic field and is connected to the school building by a communication corridor. The mass of the gymnasium from the street side is urbanistically connected to the setback building line of the adjacent cafeteria building. In this position it fits into the surrounding structure of the site despite its larger volume. The school campus also benefits from the position which urbanistically complements the profile of Křížná Street. It forms a compact whole and, by adding smaller features, effectively integrates the whole area into the school programme.

The proposal places the sports hall in a position behind the canteen. This location has often been chosen because it preserves a landscape area of importance with mature trees in front of the dining hall and the new sports hall. However, it brings with it the problem of how to connect the new facility with a 'dry foot' to the existing school buildings. Its solution in this project is elegant - a glazed arcade that is gracefully connected to the mass of the gymnasium. The jury highly appreciates the visual and functional connection between the indoor sports area and the outdoor sports area, which is directly adjacent to the building. This connection creates an excellent sporting and functional environment. The design works harmoniously with the existing and newly designed trees to create a pleasant outdoor space. The authors decided not to embed the building in the ground and at the same time designed the sports hall with the minimum recommended height. These two decisions lead to a materially and technically economical solution that the jury felt was an appropriate response to the brief. The jury highly appreciates the purity of the design of the structure consisting of a combination of slender concrete columns and wooden beams as the main structural element. The jury's doubts were raised by the south façade, which is light and beautiful but not convincing in terms of sufficient shading. The jury's second doubt was the relationship of the proposed building to Křižná Street, where the main public entrance is logically located, but the rest of the façade is a blank wall of changing rooms. This is the price the authors are paying for the decision not to put the changing rooms underground.

While the new sports hall of the Křižná school is mainly built for the educational PE classes, the scale and location of the development can also result in a relevant new public building in the city's structure. To find its place in the wider context, we considered the placement, appearance, and connections accordingly, looking for coherence with the environment. For the building to be lasting and accepted, it needs to work well functionally, have a clear purpose within the school complex, and have a role that makes it fit in the town of Valašské Meziříčí.

The proposal places the building next to the cafeteria. The building takes place on a rectangular, uncomplicated plan. It elegantly combines a concrete base, a timber structural system, and a lightweight envelope. Its appearance is modest, with a legible structure that brings a pleasing detail to the overall appearance. The location of the building was judged to be appropriate, however, the downside is the problematic provision of access for pupils. The open passage link was not viewed positively by the panel, with a preference for providing pupil access 'dry foot'. The design works with the terrain and recesses the hall by one story, providing the necessary internal clearance without the hall towering significantly over the surrounding houses. The proposed visual link from Křižná Street has the potential to act as a possible attraction for passers-by. The jury commended the work to connect the residential development to the riverbank and the resulting frontage in front of the building towards the existing children's playground. Landscaping-wise, this is a pleasing solution with retaining the existing trees and their sensitive addition. It is balanced, harmonious, and positive.

The space between things. Even more important than the character of things is the emptiness between them. This space is like the silence between the notes that makes a melody stand out from the noise. Instead of placing the new sports pavilion filling the space between the school and the neighboring houses, we decided to leave that space open to create a garden. Like children playing, the buildings form a circle around this courtyard. The new pavilion “holds hands” with the rest of the buildings through a small triangular connector, which allows the operation of the pavilion to be integrated or separated from the rest of the school.

The entry was appreciated by the jury for its logical work and subtle supporting structure, which effectively fulfills its function and also creates its own architectural form. The proposed urban design is sensitive and respects the context of the surrounding environment. Its logical development of the relationship with the street and the courtyard contributes to the site's integration into the urban space. From a landscape point of view, it is an interesting and sophisticated solution that exploits the site's potential; it is playful, pleasant, and positive. The authors have also paid significant attention to the energy scheme, which aspires to bring an innovative approach to the use and significant energy savings required to operate the new building.