PILOT PROJECT: SOVIET SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION, TYPE H
Type: Educational
Status: Technical project, Ongoing
Area: 6829 m2
Year: 2024
Location: Kryvyi Rih region, Ukraine
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“Rebuild the Wonderful” curators: Gilma Teodora Gylytė, Eglė Kliučinskaitė, Justina Narauskienė
Transformation concept & principles: Gilma Teodora Gylytė (from Lithuania, DO ARCHITECTS), Vadim Babij (from Lithuania, DO ARCHITECTS), Siiri Vallner (from Estonia, KAVA KAVA), Csaba Nagy (from Hungary, ARCHIKON)
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Type H concept:
Chief Architect: Gilma Teodora Gylytė
DO ARCHITECTS team: Gilma Teodora Gylytė, Vadim Babij, Dovilė Rudokienė, Deimjanas Gološčiapovas, Rimgaudas Prašmutas, Gerda Jasilionytė, Martyna Kildaitė, Edgar Vladimirenko
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Technical project: DO ARCHITECTS (Lithuania) in collaboration with OKSA Architects (Ukraine)
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Visualisations: Edvinas Skiestenis (Bloorise), Deimjanas Gološčiapovas (DO ARCHITECTS)
REBUILD THE WONDERFUL initiative aims to promote human-centric transformations of standard socialist-built everyday buildings and spaces in Central and Eastern Europe. This NGO focuses on positive transformation in three key areas: revitalizing streets, redesigning homes, and modernizing educational institutions.
5 SOVIET SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION PILOTS project is based on the spatial transformation of standard schools, as the majority of schools in Ukraine were built according to typical soviet designs. After research the five most popular building types Q, H, H3, O and C, repeated hundreds of times across the country, were chosen. REBUILD THE WONDERFUL brought experienced architects in educational building transformation together to create 5 school pilots that after the end of the war can be replicated and help not only to restore war damaged schools, but also provide a new quality of learning environment.
The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Big City Lab.
TYPE H
The pilot school is located in a residential neighborhood of small town Kryvyi Rih. The main desire is to create a public square in front of the school entrance area so that the school becomes the central attraction point of the small residential area. The square could serve for commercial purpose, host city fairs and other celebrations. As a result, the school would become more visible to the town’s residents and safer.
Type H school consists of two wings with a connecting link between them. The front wing has 2 stories, while the other is twice as large, reaching 4 stories. Due to the proportional wings and regular shape of the building, it is easy to design new interior spaces within the school. The H-shaped building naturally forms front and back courtyards.
BEFORE
In the new proposal, all the existing features of the building are enhanced. The front entrance is moved to a different location to face a public square in the front courtyard. The entrance hall is designed with a new metal and glass extension, which matches the height of the connecting section between the two wings. This transformation creates a more open and vibrant front courtyard, as well as a quiet back courtyard with existing trees and private terraces for the kindergarten classes.
AFTER
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FLOOR PLAN
The most significant change in the school is the increased number of shared spaces that bring the community together and foster closer connections. By relocating the main entrance, a common multifunctional space is created at the heart of the school, combining the primary school functions of work, leisure, relaxation and play.
The most transformative change in the spatial layout is the addition of a new transparent volume at the entrance area, where students can interact, spend their free time, have dance lessons and parents can wait for their children. This space can be divided by modular partitions from the side entrances and serves as the main event hall where events, dance performances and other school celebrations can be observed from the amphitheater seating.
The multifunctional space transitions into the cantina, thereby merging the primary and most active areas of the school into a unified space to bring students together in one central location. By reconfiguring the layout of the furniture in the cantina, it can also function as an extension of the multifunctional event space for larger gatherings.
The amphitheater, which serves as the main gathering point and heart of the school, leads to the learning center/library on the second floor, which is situated at the central part of the building. This area offers both open and more secluded spaces for leisure and studying, providing a calm environment for literary pursuits. Nearby, a quieter, enclosed media/audio room is designed for specific activities.
Administrative offices are located adjacent to the library. Glass partitions replace solid walls, allowing not only teachers but also other school staff to be visible and foster a connection between the school director and students. Teacher and student rooms are situated in close proximity to each other to encourage collaboration among different interest groups. Both teacher and student rooms can be divided into two sections - one for meetings, idea generation and a more relaxed lounge area with a mini coffee bar for breaks. Creating such similar spaces promotes a sense of equality within the community.
The school corridors and classrooms are designed to serve multifunctional purposes and adapt to different subject needs. Classroom furniture can be arranged in non-traditional ways - in circles, in a single row or as separate desks. Corridors serve both active leisure activities (with recesses and freely movable furniture) and quiet post-class work or lesson preparation (with small enclosed cabinets). The corridors also serve as storage space, as students use lockers to store their outerwear and personal belongings
An elevator is designed in the left wing of the building to provide convenient access to all floors.
FIRST FLOOR
GROUND FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
THIRD FLOOR
SITE PLAN
The pilot school is located in a residential neighborhood of small town Kryvyi Rih. While the town has shops, administrative buildings, libraries and other public facilities, it lacks a central gathering space for its community.
To create a primary hub for residents, a public square with various additional functions is being developed in front of the school’s main entrance, connecting the town square to the school’s front yard. These functions are intended to attract residents to engage in various activities and become a local point, creating a safer environment for school students in a result.
Existing trees on the school grounds are preserved and more green areas are added to the site plan. A drop-off point, parking spots, outdoor classrooms and sports areas are formed around the school building. Additionally, leisure spaces and walking paths are established. The entire private school campus is enclosed with locked gates to ensure the safety of the students.
WE HAVE ALSO CREATED ANOTHER SCHOOL PROJECT FOR "REBUILD THE WONDERFUL" INITIATIVE: