IPR Praha: Mariánské náměstí

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The public space should serve as a place for meeting, rest and art.

Mariánské náměstí is defined by four important buildings - the National Library, the Municipal Library in Prague, Prague City Hall, and the Clam-Gallas Palace. It primarily served as a parking lot throughout the 20th century. However, its fate is now slowly changing. The square has been in modified trial operation since 2019. Instead of parked cars, you now find Prague tables and chairs here. The end of 2020 also brought about something new. The city leadership approved the new appearance of the square designed by the XTOPIX architectural studio. The public space should serve as a place for meeting, rest and art.

What should happen and why? What will change?

What has worked so far?

On 21 September 2019, that year’s Car-Free Day and part of the International Mobility Day, a temporary transformation of the square began which will last until the revitalization is complete.
Prague City Council and the Prague 1 municipal district approved a design for the elaboration of a conceptual study by IPR, which later announced a competition for a developer of the design for the site - the XTOPIX architectural studio. The resulting design is also the result of citizen participation.
The square has been in modified trial operation since 2019.
Prague tables and chairs have been added, while cars have had to park elsewhere.
The Municipal Library in Prague has become the new coordinator for temporary cultural and community activities.

What will happen?

The space should become a pedestrian zone.
There will be benches, mobile chairs and larger benches in the northern part, which symbolically follows the line of Prague’s redevelopment.
The public space will be newly complemented with stone paving. The borders around the buildings will be formed by a Prague mosaic, while the center of the square will be paved with cut tiles with a sandblasted or bush-hammered surface. You can already see an example of this new paving in the square today.
The design also addresses the microclimate of the site. The area will be cooled by a fountain. There will also be several drinking fountains and mist-producing nozzles for refreshment in the hot summer and to serve as a natural play element for children.
Three maple trees will be planted as these tolerate drought and the generally more demanding conditions of the urban environment very well.

The southern part of the square will provide a variable space for organizing various cultural events under the auspices of the Municipal Library. The cultural program will focus on theatrical performances, concerts, public readings and markets.
The square will mainly serve pedestrians and cyclists. It will still allow the necessary passage of cars and other means of transport. The design envisages the widening of sidewalks and the creation of pedestrian and residential zones. More crossings will also be provided.
The recessed alley on Platnéřská street will become a wide sidewalk. It can also serve as an outdoor exhibition space for Prague City Gallery.
Náměstí Franze Kafky will be transformed into a free-time zone with access for all types of vehicles. There will be an international art competition for the appropriate placement and design of a work of art in this square under the auspices of the Art for the City program.
Kaprova street will now be a two-way street. Sidewalks will be widened at the expense of parking spaces. There will now be tree alleys on both sides of the street.

About the project

Project base points

schedule

Commencement: 2019
Completion: n/a

How much will it cost?

n/a

Who will do the work?

XTOPIX

The role of IPR Prague

Conceptual study contracting authority

Form

Conceptual study - download here (in Czech)

Contact details

If you have any queries: Dagmar Plamperová, dagmar.plamperova@mlp.cz, 771 126 527, Mariánské náměstí coordinator

If you have any queries for IPR: Ing. arch. Šimon Jiráček, 236004619, jiracek@ipr.praha.eu, guarantor

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