Conceptual Architectural Design of a
Primary School in City Kvart in Podgorica
Designing an elementary school within the new quarter is designing a platform for the community and social network, as much as it is the design of an environment for children to grow up, socialize, and study.
The architectural concept has been developed from the insight that, rather than being three distinct centers (a school, a healthcare center, and a cultural institution), these three parcels may come together to form a public and cultural node that elevates the image and quality of everyday life in the neighborhood.
Urban context
The project aims to become an integral part of this future cultural core by establishing generous spaces open to the public and initiating a continuum of public spaces and activities at street level, starting right from the school's urban block. The school is conceived as a central component of the cultural core; therefore, it introduces a diagonal urban square that opens up the perspective toward the north. This design exposes the future cultural house, simultaneously creating an inviting urban square that encourages people to stay while also announcing the cultural center and initiating the procession toward it.
Generous Public space
The school is designed to maximize its benefit to the public both during and after school hours. While the school is in operation (running in two shifts), the project offers the external public access to a square with a community-operated café and entry to the sports hall (when not in use). After school hours, approximately 90% of the school's built and open spaces are open to the public. This includes everything except the classrooms: the 'Running Boulevard shortcut,' all outdoor sports courts, the active rooftop on the third level (accessible via spiral stairs from the square or an elevator from the interiors, with possible uses for parties and events), the playgrounds, and the coffee shop and square, the dining multipurpose space with an attached kitchen (suitable for winter indoor events), the indoor sports hall and gymnastic room, and the library.
The Quarter playful Landmark
The school introduces unique architecture in terms of geometry (featuring a diagonal square that diverges from the orthogonal grid system), materiality (incorporating wooden frameworks and louver shading systems, or the colorful transparent railings, for example), transparency (inviting passersby to peer into the school's communal spaces), and playfulness (such as the spiral walkway to the active roof, the partially built and partially paved “yellow strip” or the “welcome edge” object ). However, it accomplishes this without disrupting the scale of the neighborhood. It showcases the pupils' activities and provides a distinctive environment for everyone. 
The Runners Boulevard Shortcut
At the northwest side of the site, the parking lot is situated along 'Ulica A' street, and it's surrounded by trees, albeit walking by it is somewhat dull. Consequently, after school hours, the public can utilize a shortcut through the school's running tracks, which are designed to resemble a boulevard. This 'Runners Boulevard Shortcut' also serves as the entrance to all the outdoor playgrounds and sports courts, which are open to the public after school hours.