Jan Vodňanský Elementary School in Prague (CZ)

The authors have already presented a very strong concept in the first round. The school building here does not aim to be a distinctive public element, but focuses on its overall playfulness and has a welcoming feel - the presented image of the school is “a building for children”. The ease of public access is one of the great strengths of the design. The jury also appreciates the very well thought out and accessible roofs which create a good counterbalance to the small site. There is a variety of good quality spaces in the design that are in close contact with the classrooms and a very good distribution of classrooms. The separate use of the ground floor and gymnasium - representing the two main public elements of the school – is also well designed. However, the overall architectural expression fell short of the jury's expectations. The jury also points to the use of a potentially valuable and attractive part of the ground floor for the kitchen. This edge of the building is treated as a rear façade and the design here falls short of its concept. The maintenance and upkeep of the building would, in the opinion of the jury, prove very costly.