CASUA Academy edition:
Presentation on Congo and Paris

The CASUA Academy is an innovative educational initiative that aims to provide professional lectures and workshops focused on architecture, construction and related disciplines such as sculpture or painting. The main mission of the CASUA Academy is to support professional development and creativity in construction and architecture with lectures focusing alternately on architecture and technical aspects of construction, including modern technologies such as BIM (Building Information Modeling). This academy represents a unique opportunity for all parties involved to expand their professional knowledge, establish new professional contacts and inspire further personal and professional growth in the dynamically developing world of architecture and construction.

We had the first such lecture for CASUA employees already in February when our colleague Jiří Petrželka presented his student project about the sustainable Saint-Denis neighbourhood in Paris, on which he worked with Kristýna Klůsová under the guidance of architect Josef Smola. In addition to residential buildings, he also focused on the Groupe Scolaire Coignet kindergarten and school building, which has a wooden supporting structure and uses local materials.

With this project, he won many awards abroad and in the Czech Republic. Among the most important are the MCSC 2020 International Student Prize, Aerogel Architecture Awards Zurich 2023, Eurasian Prize Golden Diploma, twice 1st place in Student scientific professional activity, twice 1st place in the Czech environmental competition and energy project of the year, and more.

Jiří Petrželka also presented us with the Niolo orphanage and farm project in Congo, on which he collaborated with colleagues Anita Černá and Jan Tilinger. The design of the building is based on the concept of an operational solution, local identity and tradition. The sustainability of the project is supported by the production of electricity using PV panels. The solution uses local materials, technologies and processes so that the building retains its local atmosphere and is maintainable without complications.

This project also received awards, namely the Eurasian Prize Silver Diploma and the World Architecture Community Awards 43rd cycle.