Fran Krsto Frankopan Elementary School

The elementary school "Fran Krsto Frankopan" in the city of Krk is situated on a north-east corner of the medieval town. The scale of the intervention in proportion to the size of the town made it an urban project.

The first issue concerning the positioning of the school was its relation within the urban matrix. The initial idea was to erase the borders between the public space and school areas, making the school part of the city. Street and square are transformed in the school territory: with the gym on the other side, the school opens to the street with the main entrance, library, restaurant.

The second important element is the relation to the city wall. Construction of the school occurred simultaneously with the reconstruction of the medieval wall and archaeological excavations.

The building floor plan recesses from the medieval wall and follows the topography of the terrain adapting to the city skyline. It was the monument preservation department that has supported this design method and with whom the project was developed in close cooperation.

The project is also a product of a direct relationship between the architect and the client. This relationship was a traditional one, where the client is one that is commissioning, financing and finally using the project. Being a very important building for the city, the Mayor has involved the city council in all decisions concerning its location, design and construction, engaging practically the whole town in the construction of the school.

Photograph by: ROBERT LEŠ

Source: Mies Arch Prize: http://www.miesarch.com/