At the intersection of the new and the old | SCHOOL in Yekaterinburg | concept | 2020

At the intersection of the new and the old | SCHOOL in Yekaterinburg | concept | 2020

The student project is devoted to the reconstruction of the old School in the centre of Yekaterinburg, preserving the external appearance of the building itself, which was built of red brick in 1911. At the moment the building is used as an administrative and exhibition building, the empty adjacent area has potential due to its location in the city centre while the old building is about to become a ghost.

The aim of the project was to highlight the cultural heritage site, to breathe new life into the old building by returning its former functions. The presence of the historic building on the site allowed to realise the main visual idea, which is the combination of contrasting old and new architecture.  

The volumetric and spatial solution is a smoothly flowing form with protrusions characteristic of large rooms and a sports hall with an elliptical plan. 

The entrances to the high school and primary school, as well as the academic blocks, are separated to minimise clashes between the different ages and to give the younger ones time to adjust.

On the 1st floor of the primary school there is a glazed atrium with natural light, which is provided through openings in all ceilings of the 2nd, 3rd floor and roof slab. Thus, the recreational areas of all floors are equipped with natural light.

The entrance to the lecture hall is possible from two levels (2nd and 3rd floor): on the level of the 2nd floor there is a stage, on the level of the 3rd floor there is an upper platform of the amphitheatre. This hall is in a floating volume on columns. 

On the 3rd floor, in the part above the old building, there is a high school library, a method room and a drafting/drawing room. The reading room of the city library, which is located on the 1st floor, is also illuminated here through the light well of the 2nd and 3rd floors.