Preska Primary School

The site sits on Preska’s southern edge, atop the Sava terrace with an 8 m drop. Eastward views of Šmarna gora, Grmada, and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps define its strong landscape character. The jagged, east-west plot slopes down to the east. Though smaller than guidelines allow, the design stacks three volumes down the slope, keeping the building just four meters high on the village side and preserving the views.

Classrooms normally appear as closed, strictly defined modules with optimal southern illumination. Design thinking has led us to divide space into a defined ("black") and undefined ("white") space. The volumes were formed by placing black spaces at the perimeter and a "white space" in the central void.

Along the perimeter there are rooms for group work, classrooms with flexible partitions that allow for changing the space to accommodate various needs, special classrooms, staff/teacher’s rooms and office services, etc.

In this way, the central space is freed up to allow for the creation of a covered, naturally lit lobby where undefined "white program" can be located. The white space flows through all levels and binds the entire school into a whole. Each triad builds its identity around the central space, which forms the whole of the school common spaces.

The school is organized over three levels. The top level includes the 3rd triad, special classrooms, library, and access to the sports roof. The middle level holds the 2nd triad, service areas, dining hall, and gym, with terrain access. The lowest level hosts the 1st triad, school administration, and opens directly to gardens, outdoor classrooms, and a playground.

An essential feature of our landscape design is that traffic and service spaces are separated and hidden from the users of sports and children's playgrounds and the park by hedges. The rooftops of all three volumes have outdoor areas for students. Tartan pavements allow for multipurpose use, increasing the areas of the outdoor living space with the placement of playgrounds and urban furnishings while providing unspoiled views.