The Brickworks School Campus is located on the western edge of Roztoky, in the suburb of Zalov. This part of the town is undergoing significant transformation, with the development of the school marking the next step in this process. Beyond its educational function, the school also plays an active role in the life of the local community—serving as a communal building in the afternoons and on weekends—thus becoming an important element of identity not only for students but for the town’s residents as well. The surrounding residential developments are highly varied in character; the new school has the potential to provide a unifying architectural direction. The design references the atmosphere of the former brickworks that once operated on the site, creating a link to the town’s history while harmonizing with the existing built environment. Due to the campus's phased development, the building evolves through the connection of wings with different functions and characters. The new building complements the existing functions through its compact and simple form. Despite its rational structural layout, the school—organized around an internal courtyard—offers varied spatial configurations and educational opportunities for students.
Larger schools must be divided into smaller communities to ensure students don’t feel lost and can form connections more easily. We organized the general learning spaces into four clusters, which shaped the building’s new mass. Each cluster includes four classrooms, one teacher’s room, separate restrooms, a storage room, and a breakout space. The four clusters are placed on two levels, connected by shared facilities to form a square ring around the courtyard. This layout allows not only the perimeter rooms but also the communal breakout spaces to receive ample natural light. The breakout areas facing the courtyard are flanked on the north and south by stairwells, enabling smooth vertical circulation. The two educational floors sit atop a ground floor filled with communal functions.
The building’s main entrance is accessed from Kantorova Street. A pedestrian bridge marks the entrance, from which students can easily reach the locker rooms, school club, various community spaces, and administration. Between the courtyard and the garden sits the cafeteria, enabling students to eat outdoors as well. The art and music rooms—also used by the community—are located on this level, maintaining a connection to the garden. The lobby and dining area are adjacent, allowing the two spaces to be joined or separated for larger events.
The upper levels are the students’ domain. The new building connects to the existing school via a community bridge with a library below and a terrace above. In addition to the two clusters, the upper floors include specialized classrooms for multimedia and biology, language rooms, and facilities for special education. Teacher and assistant workspaces are grouped next to the clusters. The rooftop terrace and garden also serve as additional educational areas.
The clusters flank the courtyard from two sides. The atrium results in well-lit breakout areas that can also host informal activities. On both floors, the western cluster is designated for younger students, who typically stay in school into the afternoon, while the eastern cluster serves older students, who benefit from the morning sun during outdoor lessons. The breakout spaces differ in character: the older students’ area is elongated and decentralized, ideal for small group or individual study. The younger students’ area is wider, accommodating larger play equipment like ping-pong tables.
The campus is accessed via an existing road, with added parking spaces and bicycle racks. A two-story pedestrian bridge connects the new and old buildings, clearly defining the entrances to both schools. Students can cross safely to P.E. classes without changing shoes or encountering vehicle traffic. This connection emphasizes the campus identity and frames the entry sequence. The two-level bridge is not only for circulation but also for community gathering. On the opposite side of the building from the main entrance is the service entrance, used for deliveries and catering. The sunken utility building along this route houses service functions requiring outdoor access, such as staff bike storage, maintenance workshop, waste and garden storage.
The residential buildings are situated on the sloped section of the site, and despite their height, they do not dominate the surrounding area. The building is split into three volumes and is accessed independently from Premyslovská Street. The higher density allowed for a smaller footprint, preserving more green space. A courtyard separates the residential area from the school, serving as a visual and functional buffer. The compact building masses allow for a spacious school yard, whose perimeter is lined with dense greenery to enhance the separation between functions.
Tamás Fialovszky, Detti Kolossváry, Barnabás Karakas
Education
open international competition - honorable mention
Roztoky, Czech Republic
Education
open international competition - honorable mention
Roztoky, Czech Republic
The building is designed on a strict grid, allowing for a clear construction logic and economic efficiency. Water and mechanical shafts are stacked within a solid brick core. The upper two floors use a timber frame structure, with glulam beams, CLT floor panels, and walls. This environmentally conscious, fast, and simple construction system results in a friendly, homely interior climate. The courtyard atrium ensures good daylight in circulation and breakout areas, while also promoting natural ventilation. By opening the windows in the breakout zones, a chimney effect is created to passively draw out stale air. The large flat roof allows for efficient placement of solar panels, while a green roof supports thermal buffering, rainwater collection, and reuse.
We believe it is important for children to encounter real materials and honest, natural surfaces. The floors of the breakout areas and classrooms are polished concrete with brick powder tint, visually linking the spaces. The oiled, light natural wood surfaces provide a calm, neutral background that allows children to personalize their environments. Classroom furniture is easily rearranged to suit educational needs. Classrooms have glazing on two sides and can be darkened with curtains. Large glass doors between classrooms and breakout zones can be opened, creating a broad learning landscape.
To foster local identity, the building’s appearance evokes the now-demolished brickworks that gave the campus its name. On the ground floor, a solid brick surface emerges, while the lighter timber upper floors are clad in vertical wooden slats. These slats add texture to the simple mass, with varied spacing emphasizing the window bands and breaking up large surfaces. On the bridge, the slatted façade becomes more transparent. To counterbalance the overstimulation of the built environment, a compact, calm mass is placed on site. This volume is organized around a courtyard—a kind of chimney—that references the image of the old factory stack.
The school opens toward the courtyard, with porches extending the communal spaces. The edge of the garden is marked by a dense vegetative buffer that enhances privacy. Existing sports fields on the west side were preserved and supplemented with new outdoor sports features (sprint track, long jump) on the south. On the east side of the building, a large green school garden provides a space for community gathering, play, and relaxation. Here, children interact with a diverse, natural environment. On the southern edge, a small kitchen garden is located next to the teaching kitchen.
The internal green atrium is also multi-functional. In good weather, the cafeteria can extend here, and its sheltered nature makes it ideal for outdoor classes.
The bridge connecting the school buildings creates a welcoming entry plaza. Toward the new building, the sloping site is resolved with a terraced public space. Concrete benches integrated into the steps offer a comfortable waiting spot for parents at the end of the school day.