Malostranské náměstí

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Malostranské náměstí is one of the most visited places in Prague.

Malostranské náměstí is one of the most visited places in Prague. We therefore, in cooperation with the city, announced an urban-architectural competition for an ideological solution for the entire space in 2014. The winners were the architects Martin Hájek, Václav Hájek and Petr Horský.

What should happen and why? What will change?

What should happen?

The revitalization project is the result of several years of efforts by the city and local initiatives to cultivate this important but neglected public space.
After the revitalization, the lower and upper parts of the square will offer a generous space that will be of great service to visitors to Prague, and both city and local residents.
The square will offer both quiet seating and space for markets and cultural and social activities.
Contemporary architecture will enter the space through a new water element.
Several trees will be added in the upper part of the square.
In the meantime, the tram line has been reconstructed in accordance with the project. This means that it is already possible to see how the new paving of the square will look on site.

About the project

Project base points

Schedule

Commencement: 2014 – we announced the competition

Course

2015 – the winning team completes the study
2017 – we enter into a contract for the completion of all project documentation stages
2017 to 2018 - two archeological probes performed in the upper part of the square
2018 - the paving of the tram route repaired according to the study design, a combined zoning decision and building permit issued
2019 - the combined zoning decision and building permit comes into force
2019 - the documentation used to select the supplier is completed
2020 - we chose the supplier
2021 - construction work begins, and will last about 10 months

Completion: 2021

How much will it cost?

CZK 95m

Who will do the work?

Ateliér Hájek

The role of IPR Prague

The organizer of the competition and the creator of the competition conditions

Form

An open, ideological, urban-architectural, public, anonymous, single-round competition

contact details

If you have any queries: Ing. arch. Zuzana Rákosníková, 236004599, rakosnikova@ipr.praha.eu, guarantor

For the media: Mgr. Marek Vácha, vacha@ipr.praha.eu, 723 444 291, press spokesperson

Competition

Competition conditions

The subject of the competition was to prepare an ideological architectural-urban design for the revitalization of Malostranské náměstí. The revitalization of the square is intended to create a public space of a representative and leisure character that would correspond to its significance as one of the most important squares in Prague, and may include parking to an extent consistent with this character.

Jury

Jury members

prof. dipl. arch. Miroslav Šik
prof. PhDr. Rostislav Švácha
Ing. Tomáš Novotný
Ing. arch. Antonín Novák
Ing. arch. Petr Hlaváček
Ing. Václav Novotný
Ing. Jakub Dvořák
Mgr. Jiří Skalický
Ing. akad. arch. Jan Šépka

Substitute jurors

MgA. Marcela Steinbachová
Petr Burgr

Experts on the competition jury

Ing. Jan Špilar, dopravní specialista

Competitive proposals

1st place

Author team

Ing.arch. Martin Hájek, Ing.arch. Václav Hájek, Ing.arch. Petr Horský

The jury appreciated how this design respects the historical environment and unifies the whole space. At the same time, however, it sensitively reacts to the localized problems of the square. The simple paving forms a clear spatial figure without architecturally dominating the surrounding buildings, churches or palaces. The square is always locally lined with sidewalks with traditional Prague paving, gently highlighting the individual buildings. Gray granite is the basic material - it is a traditional material for surfaces in Malá Strana. Squares, sidewalks and traffic zones are distinguished only by the pattern and size of the granite cubes and edging with granite curbs. The spatial solution is complemented by varied high-quality, simply-shaped urban furniture. The main public lighting uses historic lamps supplemented along the tram line by lampposts to which the overhead tram lines are attached. The quality of the project lies in the clarity and purposefulness of the designed space, which responds to diverse social activities. The jury also highly appreciated the respectful appearance of the urban and architectural solution.

Downloads

pdf (3.5 MB)

ak_n__pl_n_koncepce_knixx1qy.pdf

2nd place

Author team

Atelier M1 architekti, autorský tým: Ing. arch. Jakub Havlas, Ing.arch. Jan Hájek, Mgr. akad. arch. Pavel Joba

The aim of the design is to achieve a visual image of the square as it was at the end of the 18th century. The square is connected into a single whole with both the upper and lower parts creating space for ordinary and social use. A uniform carpet of tiles covers the square without height-level segregation from one building to another. The buildings thus get the appearance we know from period paintings and lithographs, the difference being the presence of vehicles in the square. The square thus becomes a more attractive location to spend time in. Pedestrians will become the main users. The design includes historical references both in terms of the image of the square itself, and also in the solutions for the details. The paving is made from quartzite with its characteristic “honey color”, while slab paving of Slivenec marble will be returned to the arbour. The disadvantage of this solution appears to be the termination of the paving at the transition to the surrounding streets. The design also seeks to give the public lighting a romantic appearance. The perimeter of the square is illuminated only by cantilever lanterns. The central area of the square is therefore insufficiently lit. The location and especially the form of the fountain in the upper part of the square are questionable. The water element is situated directly on the axis of the Church of St Nicholas. The design does not document the attachment of the overhead tram lines or the street furniture solution.

3rd place

Author team

Ing. arch. Ivan Retter, Ing. arch. Zuzana Retterová, Ing. arch. Lukáš Taller, Bořek Němec

The jury appreciated the overall project emphasis on unifying the space in the square while still differentiating the two parts to some extent. This consolidation is achieved using a carpet of uniform paving applied to all the surrounding façades with the exception of the arcade. The uniform-format paving is laid in a single level without highlighting the road, with the exception of the tram line, where the paving is rotated. QR codes embedded in the paving will aid those interested in history. The proposed sandstone street furniture with a modern appearance contrasts appropriately with the historical environment. Despite the award-winning shared-space concept, the jury criticized the design for its inappropriate and even naive placement of furniture, and considered unrealistic the complete rejection of traffic in the upper part of the square (based on the assumption of both banks of the Vltava river becoming closed to traffic), and the insufficient fulfillment of the requirement for parking and parking spaces.

Downloads

pdf (3.81 MB)

prosecke_skaly_zaverecna_zprava_cz_kng01p7j.pdf

Documents for download

pdf (5.85 MB)

katalog_souteznich_navrhu_knhzi1bb.pdf

What should happen?

Project base points

Schedule

Course

How much will it cost?

Who will do the work?

The role of IPR Prague

Form

contact details

Competition

Competition conditions

Jury

Jury members

Substitute jurors

Experts on the competition jury

Documents for download

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