The next hundred years

This dedication to the building’s character extended from spatial organization to surface textures. While the decorative friezes typical of the Art Nouveau era had been largely lost in previous alterations, construction work revealed a surprising abundance of original decorative painting fragments hidden within the classrooms.

The design team, in collaboration with conservators, successfully exposed these fragments to create templates for restoring the motifs of owls, horse chestnut flowers, and other flora and fauna. The original exposures were lightly retouched and left visible, forming a historical dialogue with the newly painted reconstructions. The interior’s original color palette was revitalized, and in the main and second-floor halls, original interior windows were restored to bring back natural light.

Post-renovation, the building’s physical fabric and its original visual values are now preserved for future students. The architecture provides a calm, coherent environment that offers a counterbalance to the intangible, digital nature of modern education. Despite minor interventions, the building’s fundamental character remains intact. We trust that it will serve the school’s future, yet undefined, needs.