Jan Vodňanský Elementary School in Prague (CZ)

The authors have presented a generous project with great ambitions and an attempt to create a significant iconic building. The shape of the façade to Přádelní Street expands the space, creating more room for public spaces. The simplification that took place between the first and second rounds helped the project immensely, especially on the ground floor. However, the jury observes that not much care has been given to the urban context. The concept is almost a "sculpture in the park", but here it exists without sufficient space around it. The design does not take into account the future development in the vicinity, or its uncertainty, and defines the surroundings with finality. Such an expensive building is questionable in this case of a confined site. The quality of the design lies in its layout - experimenting with slight change in many aspects, but where one problem is the lack of separation between younger and older children; the layout of the classrooms does not allow the first graders the intimacy they need. The heating and cooling solution seems overly complicated given its integration into the double floor.