Architecture students designed safer school surroundings in Rychnov nad Kněžnou

What could a school district look like if children, parents, pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers could all move through it more safely and comfortably? This question was explored by students from the Palacký–Dokoupilová Studio at the Faculty of Architecture of Brno University of Technology. The result is a collection of thirteen proposals for public spaces around schools in Rychnov nad Kněžnou, which are on display in the foyer of the town cinema until the end of the summer holidays.

At the end of June, the foyer of the cinema in Rychnov nad Kněžnou hosted the presentation of another stage of the Faculty of Architecture’s Living Labs initiative. During the past semester, students from the Palacký–Dokoupilová Studio focused on the theme of “School Districts in Motion” – public spaces used every day by children, parents, teachers, and other residents of the town.

The exhibition features a total of thirteen student proposals. They focus on school streets, school squares, and other areas where pedestrians, cyclists, and motor vehicles interact. The projects present different approaches to calming traffic, improving clarity, and transforming these spaces into safer and more pleasant places for everyday use.

“The students are proposing ways to improve these spaces, make them more accessible and easier to navigate, and reintroduce features such as greenery and seating areas, from small-scale interventions to permanent redesigns,” said Jiří Palacký from the Faculty of Architecture BUT, who leads the project.

Student projects as inspiration for discussion

According to representatives of the town, the student proposals can serve as inspiration for further discussions about traffic management and the future design of public spaces in Rychnov nad Kněžnou. Improving safety around schools has long been one of the town’s priorities. The exhibition of student proposals will remain open to the public in the cinema foyer until the end of the summer holidays.

The project is also linked to broader plans for the town’s development. In June, Rychnov nad Kněžnou signed a cooperation memorandum with the Škoda Auto Foundation for the period 2026–2028, focusing on support for schools, leisure activities, cycling infrastructure, public spaces, and places for community life and social interaction.

As part of the studio’s work, data on traffic intensity around local schools are also being collected. In June, traffic volumes in front of Javornická Primary School were measured using the Telraam S2 IoT sensor. This followed earlier measurements carried out in front of Masarykova Primary School and F. M. Pelcl Grammar School. The collected data may serve as one of the supporting resources for future decisions on the design of school streets in the town.

Source: Faculty of Architecture BUT

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Author	Mgr. Anna Rychnovská
Published	2026-07-27 08:42
Link	https://www.vut.cz/en/but/f19528/d350221