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A. M. Buxton Elementary Art School

Competition Proposal – Study: 2015
Client: Municipality of Úpice
Author: Jan Mackovič
Visualisations: Authors’ archive

The proposal for the second stage of the competition focuses on refining technical and functional details while preserving the original concept of a “house in the garden” — a structure that appears more as a subtle presence than as a conventional building. The interior environment remains central: a clear and legible structural principle evokes a hidden “Kazoorina” within the garden, a space dedicated to nurturing children’s creativity.

A continuous ribbon of service rooms runs along the perimeter of the floor plan, clearly defining classrooms and halls. Stage storage areas surround the entire auditorium and are separated by a sliding wall featuring a motif of playing children. This wall also allows the stage to expand for larger events. During social gatherings, final concerts, or theatrical performances, the entire building can merge into one fluid space — from the dance hall to the dome of the art “pantheon.” Visitors can move freely throughout the building, which then functions as both circulation space and a shared social foyer. All passages are generously dimensioned, and their opening or closing ensures maximum flexibility of use.

The submitted proposal also includes a comprehensive technical package: a ventilation system design prepared by a certified specialist, daylight assessments for classrooms and halls, a detailed cost estimate, and structural and thermal performance studies. These documents demonstrate that the building can be realized in a passive or low-energy standard if required. On the eastern side of the connecting wing, the design also allows for the addition of a small auxiliary structure for garden tool and technical storage.

A. M. Buxton Elementary Art School

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