OSTRAVA'S NEW CAMPUS

Art and design cluster with an attractive facade
This year, a unique facility for sport, art and innovative education was opened on the Černá louka behind the Antonín Dvořák Theatre. The University of Ostrava, which implemented the project with the help of European Union investment, was responsible for this. These are two very specific and differently conceived buildings that attract attention not only for their architecture, but above all for their technical design. The first building is the University Sports and Behavioural Health Facility and the second is the Art and Design Cluster. Both buildings serve not only students but also the public.
Concrete, music and light

The Arts and Design Cluster's minimalist building is primarily for teaching singing and playing various musical instruments. The teaching is concentrated in 50 differently sized classrooms with special acoustic parameters. The composition, layout and unique technical design of the internal structures correspond to this intention. There is also a concert hall, visually designed in the spirit of nature, which has specially designed acoustics suitable for classical music. A digital technology centre is located on the ground floor of the building. Additional space has been dedicated to displays of student and graduate artwork. The Art and Design Cluster building is divided into two basic masses. The first, a concrete cube with a concert hall, natural materials and admitted structures, forms an interesting contrast to the theme of art education. Perimeter walls of double-sided postcard concrete are complemented by windows of various shapes and sizes. The second mass is realized as brick with a projecting tubular facade that plays the melody of the faculty's musical production. In fact, the building's coloured lighting is designed to interact with the music in the chamber hall. The metal structures used evoke musical instruments in their appearance. 

A façade that loves music

The tubular façade, or rather its substrate, was designed on the basis of recommendations from the implementation company Timo Profistavby with Cemix. With regard to the function of the façade, a solution in the form of the CEMIXTHERM HARD MW system was proposed. This is essentially a highly mechanically resistant and flexible insulation system. The resistance of the façade is ensured by the use of a special trowel compound "Cemix Adhesive and Trowel Dispersion Compound HARD". For the external final surface of the façade, Activcem plaster with a thickness of 1,5 mm in grey shade SE10 was used with a TSR value of 6, which reflects the total solar reflectance. Activcem is a silicone-based render which is complemented by organic binders. This makes it a very flexible and, above all, durable plaster, which significantly eliminates the risk of cracks on its surface. The plaster also contains long-lasting active encapsulated additives that prevent the formation of mould and algae. The façade is thus attributed high colour fastness and UV stability. As can be seen when looking at the detail of the façade, a uniform aesthetic appearance has been achieved throughout. In front of this façade, a grid of 60 mm diameter vertical tubes with axial spacing is implemented. The attractiveness of the façade stands out best in the twilight when a concert is taking place in the chamber hall. Then the façade actively changes its colours in accordance with the musical production. The dark grey substrate of the tubular façade is ideal for this purpose.

An attractive place for the public

Not only the University of Ostrava, but also the city of Ostrava itself has gained an attractive and dignified place for an interesting field of education, but also a place where the general public can find new facilities for sports and cultural activities. Let us add that the author of the architectural design of the Cluster of Art and Design was Kamil Mrva Architect, s.r.o., the project design was carried out by Studio Kania, a. s. The general contractor of the construction was IMOS Brno and IPS Třinec.