The new building of the Elementary Art School combines the rational geometry of the surrounding panel housing estate with the playful softness of children’s wooden blocks. It is designed to accommodate all artistic disciplines while maintaining a gentle and articulated presence. The school offers students quiet gallery corridors, intimate classrooms, and shared gathering spaces on the ground floor and rooftop terraces. The culmination of their studies is the opportunity to perform in a concert hall overlooking a group of mature trees — the most valuable element of the site.

The school is located in the Polabiny district of Pardubice, a 1960s housing estate now characterized by abundant greenery and the separation of pedestrian movement from vehicular traffic. The existing special education school building is technically outdated and will be replaced by the new art school. The site consists of a garden with valuable clusters of trees, particularly linden trees and a poplar in the southwest, which become a key component of the urban concept. Another important aspect is the connection to the nearby local center with shops and cafés, which the new concert hall volume spatially complements and completes.

The urban design respects the orthogonal structure of the housing estate and the height limit of 15 meters. A single-storey entrance wing responds to the street intersection, the main four-storey volume of the school is positioned to the north, and the concert hall to the south. The massing allows the roof to function as an accessible terrace.

The architecture emphasizes the building’s cultural character: a combination of white plaster, vertical louvers, glass, and a light expression ensures a contemporary and welcoming appearance. The interior is designed in light, natural tones. The operational layout — with gallery corridors, north-facing classrooms, and an open foyer — creates an inspiring environment for future artists.