Herojus School

The building, located in the picturesque central part of Kaunas, is an important industrial site – it housed one of the largest and most significant printing presses in Lithuania, "Spindulys," which operated from 1928 to 2009. Although the building itself was not considered architecturally valuable, it holds great historical and cultural significance for Kaunas. After assessing the building's potential, it was decided not to demolish it but to breathe new life into it – maintaining its volume and industrial structure, updating the exterior, and adapting the interior layout for new purposes.

The goal of revitalizing the building was to preserve its character while adapting it to the needs of a modern, unconventional school: to create functional spaces that can be used for various activities, easily modifiable, and to establish a dynamic, democratic, equal, and free atmosphere. The "Hero" project aimed to be more than just a place where lessons take place, but a lively space where students, teachers, parents, and locals can come together. Therefore, the first floor was opened to the public – communal spaces, sports halls, and amphitheaters are used not only for teaching but also for events, markets, seminars, and performances. These solutions help create a building that is not isolated from the city, but rather integrates into the environment, builds community, and lives in rhythm with the city.

The dimensions, volume, and form of the building were not altered. The renovated building's facades were finished with smooth and volumetric galvanized steel plates, which give the building an industrial character. Each plate is unique – differing in pattern and reacting to the environment and seasons with reflections, creating a lively and dynamic visual effect with light brushstrokes and shadows. To emphasize the inherited industrial character, galvanized plate finishing elements were also reflected in the interior elements and the interior amphitheaters – these details create a different aesthetic experience and extend the school's philosophy that children enjoy growing up surrounded by real materials.