Register: SEP/07/2018, Submit: SEP/14/2018, Eligibility: Physical and legal entities, companies, architects, professionals; nationals of the Czech Republic or of a Member State of the European Economic Area (EEA) or the Swiss Confederation or have their registered office in the Czech Republic or in one of the EEA Member States or the Swiss Confederation, Fee: Free, Awards: 1st Prize 275,000 CZK (Czech koruna) (about 10,570 EUR), 2nd Prize 200,000 CZK (about 7,690 EUR), 3rd Prize 100,000 CZK (about 3,840 EUR), Honorable Mentions – total 50,000 CZK (about 1,920 EUR)
The existing capacities of the Čechova School on Trojská Street 211/110 are insufficient to meet the needs of the primary and grammar schools that share the building. The City District Prague 7 – Troja (Czech) therefore launches this competition for the reconstruction of the existing building, its extension and the plan for a new building on an adjacent land. The Čechova School is located at the intersection of the streets Na Kazance and Trojská next to the Kazanka estate. The building currently houses a first-level primary school and an eight-year grammar school. Such space-sharing has been common over the history of this school since its establishment in 1872, as well as in the life of this building that was ceremonially opened in 1928. For instance, after WWII, the building was home to a primary school and a kindergarten, alongside a library and an office of the city hall. The 1926 memorial to Jan Hus, by the sculptor Vilém Amort is an important listed monument on the site.
The existing building has become insufficient due to the expansion of the facilities: for example, the staff rooms are small, the locker rooms not optimal, and the capacity of the cafeteria is not sufficient. Moreover, the two school schedules overlap, and this is not ideal.
SITE
Plot 314/1+315: area 4,817 m2, built up area 1,699 m2
Plot 294/1: area 1,592 m2, built up area 0 m2
Plot 294/1 is currently used by the Troja Sokol as a caravan camp.
COMPETITION TASK
The purpose of the competition is to optimise the existing facilities and to supplement their capacity according to the needs of the management. Separation of the primary school and the grammar schools is particularly important. Both must have a separate, barrier-free entrance logically oriented towards public space. In addition to the current plot no. 314/1 and 315 including the building, the school can also newly utilise plot no. 294/1 belonging to the city district, where it is possible to place facilities not directly associated with teaching (dining room, assembly hall, offices for the school psychologist and prevention officer). The city district would like to use this new construction as a community centre, where various ceremonies and cultural events of the city district can also be held. All proposed facilities must have adequate sanitary amenities. The Contracting Authority expects to invest CZK 50 million excluding VAT. This amount does not include the price of equipping the interior. The entry should pay close attention to the design in terms of both the capital and the operational budgets.
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Primary school management appreciates the compactness of the operation – all classes are oriented to a large hall in which students meet and together spend their breaks. For these purposes there is a playground in the hall. The problem arises when the pupils’ works are displayed in this hall or a school performance is held there. For such purposes the hall is not adapted, so the primary school needs another space of similar dimensions (approx. 120 m2), which would serve for school exhibitions, gatherings and performances. The school also lacks barrier-free, separate entrance. Today the entrance is through an extension at the level of a large gym; there is a conflict of flows. Barrier-free issue is solved by mobility stairclimbers, which, however, lead from the original main entrance, used now by the grammar school, to the first floor, where behind the locked door is the after-school care (in Czech: “družina”). The after-school care on the first floor is connected with the other primary school operations via another mobility stairclimber.
The school requires furthermore 5 specialized classrooms, each for 20 pupils. Three of them are for art, music and literary education. The other two will serve half-class lessons and interest clubs in the afternoon. The school thinks that these classrooms will become core classes prospectively. Existing core classes need to be modified. Each of them (ideally 70 m2), with a capacity of 30 pupils, should also have a resting area. The capacity of the existing PC classroom is sufficient. Existing after-school care must expand from 3 x 20 to 5 x 20. It can be one large flexible space or five rooms. It is important that the whole operation is compact.
The pedagogical centre, where individual consultations are held with pupils and their parents, should be at least 20 m2. Its location within the building should be more accessible (currently located outside the main hall opposite the toilets). At a time when there is no consultation, this space can be used as a relaxation room. The current staffroom is missing windows and a small storage. The intention of the school management is to create a fully-fledged staffroom for 10-15 teachers with a storage for supplies and teaching aids that are used regularly. The current principal office is also inadequate and should be provided with a secretary office for one person. The changing rooms should be sized for the target 180 pupils. All operation must be supported by sufficient hygienic facilities and storage space.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL
The grammar school wants to merge its operations into one. Number of core classes (30 pupils each) will be expanded from 8 to 13. In addition, two half-capacity classes will be designed to teach half-class lessons. The capacity of the laboratory, the existing specialized classrooms (capacity of 30 pupils) and two PC classrooms are sufficient.
School management appreciates the size and location of the principal and secretary office currently on the first floor to the right of the main staircase (i.e., from the first floor hall, which serves as a grammar school entrance, the visitor will enter the school’s administrative centre directly). It is necessary to set up offices for the (currently 24) teachers The maximum number is 4 people per office. The school needs therefore at least 6 offices. All operation must be supported by sufficient hygienic facilities and storage space.
The grammar school management can imagine the location of a specialized classroom of art education and ecology (capacity of 30 pupils) outside the main building of the school. The room for a school psychologist and expert in prevention is to be located in a new building on plot 294/1. This room should be of a domestic character and a minimum of 20 m2. When not used by a psychologist, it can be used as a club.
SHARED OPERATIONS
The cafeteria is moved to plot 294/1. Its capacity will be increased to 150 seats; the kitchen will prepare about 500 meals. The cafeteria could also be used for catering for various events held in the new big auditorium (Hall 2), which should be also newly set up on the 294/1 plot. This auditorium should have about 600 m2 for social meetings of Prague 7 – Troja.
On the 294/1 site can also be relocated an apartment of a caretaker who currently has 80 m2 and disposition of two bedrooms and one room with kitchen corner.
The existing gym is sufficient. The only thing that is not present in the current operation is separation of clean and dirty flow. When going from the lockers to the large gym, one has to go through the entrance space of the sports facility and of primary school as well. It will be good if the contestants find a solution to this inappropriate crossover of flows.
Website: cceamoba.cz