Central polytechnical workshops and gallery of the city of Pardubice

Our goal is to incorporate the former Automatic Mills (Automatické mlýny) created at the beginning of the 20th century by Josef Gočár into the newly created complex, where the monument-protected structure will be the central figure. The aim of the city, the region and the private investor is to create a new, multifunctional urban space, including cultural, educational institutions and private activities. By removing some existing buildings, we intensify the dominant front portal with the entrance arch and at the same time allow the whole area to be perceived without interruption from side of the historical part of the city. The creation of new public spaces is absolutely vital in terms of the revival of the mills. We create two public spaces that have a deliberately different character and function. We confirm the main entry with the proposed square with a bosquet. This space will mainly be a calm, representational entry point, but we anticipate that, for instance, markets could take place here. Inside the new complex, the Mill Courtyard is created, which will be a lively space into which all the functions of the surrounding buildings open. An integral part of the overall concept is the colour solution. All new objects will be color-coded on the brick colour of the Automatic Mills. With this motif, we want to unite the whole area, including the walking areas. On the northern side of the complex, in direct connection to the mills’ building, we propose to place Central Polytechnic Workshops to close the whole area. The Central Polytechnic Workshops are in the upper part and are accessible by two staircases, which also create the structural support of this building. These workshops will be designed primarily for elementary and secondary school pupils and will offer peak-equipped classrooms and laboratories for teaching technical and natural science disciplines. Thanks to the elevation of the entire building, the upper floors provide the peace needed for the students’ work, while the gallery of Pardubice GAMPA, which is located in the lower part of the parterre, is more connected with the public space. GAMPA is a kind of plinth where also the roof is accessible in the interspace. The public space thus gains another dimension by the fact that there is an amphitheatre for 250 people where a number of open-air events can be organized in the summer. The Gallery of the City of Pardubice works primarily with upper lighting of all the exhibition rooms. The materials used are to support the overall concept of the design. The lower part of the gallery is bricked and thus builds on Gočár’s industrial building of the mills. In the case of the central polytechnical workshops, it is coloured fair-faced concrete for the construction and floors, steel girders, which allow the installation of the mains recognized in the interior and light panels covered with an atmofix panel, placed along the enture perimeter of the building.