Architecture of School Buildings in Western Belarus (1921–1939)

The article examines the key aspects of the architecture and standardized design of school buildings during the period of the Second Polish Republic (1921–1939) located in Western Belarus. The study demonstrates how the architecture of schools reflected the political, economic, cultural, and social objectives of the Polish state in the interwar period. The research identifies the factors influencing both the educational process and the architecture of school buildings, which, in addition to their primary educational function, included: preserving national identity, strengthening a sense of national unity, promoting Polish culture, preparing students for future working life, and complying with hygiene requirements and healthy environmental standards for school facilities. The article highlights the specifics of school building design from the perspective of economic considerations: the use of affordable materials, phased construction, and the combination of two school buildings with shared facilities on a single plot. It is established that Polish architects, in their standardized school designs, widely incorporated elements of the «Zakopane Style» alongside leading international architectural trends as a means of expressing national identity. As examples, the study presents standardized design solutions for school buildings developed for mass construction in the Second Polish Republic, as well as photographic materials of schools that were actually built.