The elementary school SVAT is located on the third floor of the main building (the redoubt) of the Šibeniční vrch (Galgenberg) fortress. Surprisingly, it was not difficult to convert the military warehouse into a school. This architectural intervention is a rescue from decay, giving new life to the heritage-protected building. Children attend the school, and the place is lively throughout the day. Thanks to the school's function, repairs to other buildings in the complex are also being planned.
The Theresian fortifications of Olomouc are one of the largest complexes in Austria-Hungary. These technical monuments do not have an easy repurposing. After the establishment of Czechoslovakia, the fortress was modified; the reduit was fitted with an entire floor extension and an elevator addition. This has given the building height and elegance. The modern space, with large windows and a ribbed reinforced concrete ceiling, is unique. This is emphasized by the access via two historic staircases in the core of the original fortress.
The layout of the extension mirrors that of the fortress. Vaults are below, and walls are above. The transformation of the military warehouse into an elementary school involved demolishing the central corridor and creating classrooms and offices around the perimeter of the layout. In the center, there are social facilities and storage areas. The new wide corridor is articulated with new openings, creating a foyer with activities (ping-pong, foosball, library, etc.) in front of each classroom. At the ends of the floor plan are the school administration section and the cafeteria. In the center, there is a multipurpose hall (auditorium/exercise room).
All spaces have skylights, allowing the deep layout (22 m) to be illuminated and visually connected. The dominant ribbed ceiling with light lines unifies the space. Strict symmetry, repetitive arrangement of spaces, and a modest color and material palette create an environment of calm for work. Throughout the entire floor, the original cleaned brick structure with a concrete ceiling is distinctly separated from the newly installed wooden partitioning with skylights. Additionally, the shared space flowing from the corridor and the auditorium is distinctly divided from the classrooms and offices, where the bricks are painted white.
The project originated as a development of the spatial study for the entire fortress and adjacent lands.
Location: Třída Jiřího Pelikána 1401/1c, Olomouc
Authors: ječmen studio / Eva Blažková, Lukáš Blažek
Investor: Private
Collaborators: Lucie Vyhlídalová, Anna Pospíšilová
Built-up Area: 2,213 m²
Usable Floor Area: 1,791 m²
Enclosed Volume: 7,210 m³
Project Duration: 2022–2023
Construction Period: 2023–2024
Costs: EUR 2,400,000
Photography: Pavel Vrzala