Toronto-based Office Ou has been selected as the winner of an international architecture competition to design a new public school in the historic Smichov district of Prague. Organized by the Centre for Central European Architecture (CCEA MOBA) on behalf of the City of Prague, the competition drew entries from around the world, with Office Ou?s design topping a deep international field of 66 anonymous submissions.
Designed in collaboration with Poland?s INOSTUDIO Architects, Office Ou?s Smichov elementary school will be the first new urban public school built in central Prague in nearly 100 years. Accommodating approximately 540 students ages six to 14, the 10,000 m2 building will be a centrepiece of the ambitious Smichov City redevelopment, which aims to transform some 200,000 m2 of former urban railway lands near Prague?s historic centre into a mixed-use community that prioritizes green space, walkability, and a fine-grained urban fabric. According to Office Ou?s founding partners Nicolas Koff, Uros Novakovic, and Sebastian Bartnicki, the design aims to foster social and environmental stewardship, positioning the school as a vital hub for the reinvented Smichov community. ?Through an interplay of indoor study spaces and outdoor public display areas, the building enriches the classroom experience by providing opportunities for students and teachers to interact with, connect to, and transform the urban environment,? say the designers.
Framing the building, a simple grid of ...