VIDA Elementary School: A Model for Open, Inclusive Education

OVA’s design of the VIDA Elementary School in Chýně, near Prague, reflects a contemporary approach to education that sees learning as a fluid process extending beyond the traditional classroom. Conceived as an open, inclusive environment, the school hosts educational, sports, and recreational programs for all ages and remains open throughout the weekend. Shared spaces – corridors, alcoves, courtyards, and terraces – take on a central role as places for informal learning and social interaction.

A school for every generation

The layout is organized around two courtyards. The first is open to the public as an extension of the town, while the second, more secluded space is nested within the school to provide a protected environment for recreation and community events.

Context is a defining element of the design. The building’s highly legible organization addresses both the site’s steep topography and its location at the edge of a rapidly expanding district. This strategic layout allows the school to function as an autonomous structure that will eventually serve as a central urban node for the developing community. From this perspective, the courtyards immediately establish recognizable public spaces.

The internal layout reflects the project’s programmatic complexity. The classrooms and community core are situated to the north, while the sports facilities, auditorium, and services are located to the south. The building is organized across three levels that follow the natural slope of the site. Separate entrances provide access from both street level, which connects to the town center, and the first floor, which links to the sports complex. Each level has a direct connection to the outdoors, culminating in an accessible roof featuring terraces, open-air classrooms, and spaces for gardening.

A key feature of the project is its ability to support different uses. In the morning, the school is dedicated to primary education. In the afternoon, however, it operates as a community center, with the library, gym, extracurricular spaces, and multipurpose hall accessible to the public.

The sports program rounds out the project with an extensive range of facilities, including a running track, an integrated soccer field, an indoor sprint corridor, and spectator seating that steps from the ground to roof levels.

The school achieves a Class A energy rating through an integrated suite of environmental strategies, including heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, a high-performance envelope, and controlled mechanical ventilation supplemented by natural airflow. The reinforced concrete structure and masonry infill provide thermal mass, while ceramic cladding establishes a solid, durable presence. Features such as canopies and integrated planters mitigate the heat island effect, reflecting a well-planned climate strategy.

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