Czech architectural studio dílna has designed a new extension for Masaryk University in the city of Brno that resembles an art gallery more than an educational facility. The new building is composed of several stacked white concrete volumes and appears as a contemporary contrast to the surrounding neoclassical architecture.
The extension provides a new home for Masaryk University’s art education program with spaces for both traditional art disciplines and new media, including: cutting, drilling, and welding workshops, a painting studio, and a multimedia studio with complete blackout features and adjustable color backlighting. “All rooms are brightly lit and painted entirely white, creating a spacious and fresh environment that fosters creativity and focus,” says dílna. The extension’s modest geometric forms contrast with its historic surroundings, enlivening the site. Standing apart from the area’s neoclassical buildings, it has the appearance of a smart art gallery.
“The construction site originally housed three structures from different periods: a dismantled pavilion from a former shooting range, a substation, and a recently added elevator that serves the adjacent historic building,” says dílna. “Our design was shaped not only by the client's requirements but also by several constraints.” One significant challenge was the need to work around the fully operational substation during construction. The studio chose to utilize a massive reinforced concrete structure: “This allowed us to bridge over the substation and mitigate any impact on the structural stability of the historic building’s gable wall and the elevator shaft.”
Another challenge faced by dílna was the necessity for natural light within the studio spaces. The building has no side windows — to ensure daylight can penetrate into the studios, dílna introduced a horizontal shift across each floor that allowed for the insertion of skylights. The building’s final profile was determined by a study of daylight and sun exposure in connection with neighboring residential units.
The project’s limited budget necessitated design of a practical and utilitarian structure. “The purity of the building's orthogonal mass is accentuated by smooth white rendering and large-scale frameless glazing, distinguishing it from conventional construction practices,” says dílna. Interior concrete surfaces are covered with white paint and an epoxy coating is applied to the floors — “despite the relatively modest size of the spaces, they feel exceptionally airy and light,” says the architect. The building’s infrastructural facilities are seamlessly connected to existing utilities.
“One of the most positive aspects of this project was the client’s openness to a non-traditional approach, embracing a design that goes beyond the typical architecture of educational institutions and leans more towards the spatial aesthetics of a gallery,” says dílna.
Plot area: 141 square meters (1,518 square feet)
Gross floor area: 320 square meters (3,445 square feet)
Usable floor area: 300 square meters (3,229 square feet)
