Holice opened a basic art school with sculptures by K. Malich

Holice (Pardubicko) - Holice in Pardubice ceremoniously opened the new Karel Malich Elementary Art School on the first school day. The building, costing more than 50 million crowns, will have significantly lower energy consumption than conventional constructions and is the largest investment in the modern history of the town. The office is covering it without subsidies.

"After winter, we will have the first information on how well the technology works, but I am convinced that it will be great; the test turned out well from the perspective of the building's quality," said Deputy Mayor Vítězslav Vondrouš to ČTK.

The primary school, with four above-ground floors, is expected to consume about 40 percent less energy than buildings without energy-saving technologies. Students will have access to classrooms for music education, both chamber and larger halls, as well as spaces for visual arts and dance disciplines.

The town hall borrowed 28 million crowns for the construction. The total investment amounted to 54 million crowns, of which four million were spent on interior equipment, including works of art. Since last week, the building, designed by architect Dalibor Borák, has also been adorned with two sculptures by artist Karel Malich.

The Holice native, who is celebrating his 90th birthday this year, is an honorary citizen of the town, and the works are meant to reference the landscape of his youth, the Kamenecký Hill. In recent years, the prominent Czech artist has returned to simplicity in his work. In the simple lines of the metal sculptures, the author expressed the energy of the Kamenecký Hill, said Vondrouš.

"The first reactions from people will certainly be questioning why we even have those sculptures and that they are extremely expensive. However, in a few years, this will undoubtedly be one of the monuments of Holice. Among professionals, the works are known, and a few people from abroad have already come to see them," Vondrouš said.
One sculpture has been hung on the facade, while the other hangs from the ceiling on the school floor. The building will not only serve students but will also host lectures, musical performances, and council meetings. The public will thus have the opportunity to repeatedly view the white spiral in the school’s hallway, Vondrouš added.

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