Rohan Island

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Rohan Island is about to be transformed

Park Prague 8 Flood protection measures Libeň Bridge Rohan City

After more than a year of the international Competitive Dialog announced by Prague together with the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), the future shape of Rohan and Libeň Islands is now known. The winner was a Czech-Belgian team consisting of the OMGEVING+FISER+VRV+SINDLAR studios. The task was to propose the form into which the public space along the Vltava River will change over the next few years, how it will function and how we will take care of it. The site, which has not received much attention in the past, will thus become a place not only for wild nature, living and working, but also for relaxation, while at the same time protecting the inhabitants of Prague from flooding. A 56-hectare floodplain park will be created to connect people with the river, preserve the local biodiversity, and effectively contribute to the city’s flood protection system.

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WINNING DESIGN

OMGEVING+FISER+VRV+SINDLAR (BE/CZ)

The Holešovice Meander is a unique natural phenomenon in terms of the Prague basin and the whole of Bohemia. There is no similar space on the entire course of the Vltava River that is so generously shaped in such a sudden contrast to the deep canyons to the south and north of Prague. We propose to commemorate the power of the original landscape picture, fundamentally transformed by the regulation of the river bed, through a piece of “interwater”, once again defined by the dynamic rhythm of the river after many years. We offer a hybrid spatial mosaic of unpredetermined stories, experienced a little differently each time.

See the project here.

Committee evaluation

The winning team presented a very convincing and feasible park design that is extremely innovative in its approach to flood protection. The design won thanks to the overall balance of the bid - a quality, clear and well-executed design, the efficiency of the proposed process, and a favorable price offer. A more detailed version of the committee evaluation is available here.

2nd place

LOLA+M2AU+de Architekten Cie. (NL/CZ)

This design is based on a consistent effort to improve resilience to climate change.

The priority is to provide space for the river that will protect the city from flooding and that will create a biodiverse environment. Generous water areas will be created within the park. This ecosystem will not only benefit the local wildlife, but will also become a treasured place enhancing social life in the heart of Prague for current and future generations.

See the project here.

Committee evaluation

This team’s project advanced biodiversity and the local ecosystem in a progressive and extensive way. The team worked superbly with the context of the territory and its genius loci. However, the cost of the contract and the significantly lower effectiveness of the flood protection measure reduced the jury’s score. A more detailed version of the committee evaluation is available here.

3rd place

DELVA+perspektiv (NL/CZ)

The revitalization of the Vltava meander is a new story of the river in the city. The engineering work becomes a unique ecosystem. The completion of the urbanization of the Rohan waterfront has brought the city closer to the river, giving it new energy and a new spatial dialog. The remnants of the industrial revolution are returning to nature, and the change to the terrain will open up new cityscape vistas. The transformation will improve the waterfront arterial road connecting the entire city, and the park on Rohan Island will provide an oasis of calm near the busy Karlín. The project presents a vision of the future, when the surroundings are completed, the banks are connected and Prague has a new destination for weekend picnics with friends. The project itself is an opportunity for all of us to come together once again by the Vltava River and think about what unites us and what divides us in a city that would never have been created without the Vltava.

See the project here.

Committee evaluation

The competition team presented a very high quality urban park design that appropriately combines space for people and nature with rich wetland ecosystems. In its design, the team presents a functional and integrated solution in terms of flood protection. The jury reduced its rating due to the less thoroughly planned phasing of the project and less work with the genius loci. A more detailed version of the committee evaluation is available here.

4th place

New Park Maniny Consortium – DS+VenhoevenCS+MOBA+Aquatis (NL/CZ)

We will create an inclusive park on the river that connects the city and its people to the water while protecting the people of Prague from flooding. People and nature are equal here. We love the urban nature and appreciate the history of this location. The promenade is the backbone of the park and a place for walks on the outskirts of the city. A river arm is extended into the park to let flood water in and rainwater out. Time is our friend, and we will improve the park through a maintenance strategy and the help of volunteers.

See the project here.

Committee evaluation

This competition team presented exceptional knowledge of the local communities and demonstrated strong social inclusiveness in its design. Although the committee appreciated a number of the ideas, the overall park design is not appropriately related to its surroundings and will not achieve the possible flood protection effect. A more detailed version of the committee evaluation is available here.

COMPETITIVE DIALOGUE

An international Competitive Dialog took place from spring 2022 to spring 2023, resulting in the Maniny Park study and the Rohan and Libeň Island concept. Four selected teams consisting of studios from Belgium, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic designed the future shape of this public space along the Vltava River from Hlávka Bridge to the edge of Libeňské kosy in parallel. The winner was selected by the expert committee in spring 2023, and was the Czech-Belgian team OMGEVING+FISER+VRV+SINDLAR, which presented the most balanced bid. “The winning team presented a very convincing and feasible park design that is extremely innovative in its approach to flood protection. The concept responds to the needs of the specific locations, and works effectively with individual user groups. Of all the submitted proposals, it creates the most accessible and permeable area thanks to its different approach to land reclamation,” commented IPR Director Ondřej Boháč on the winning proposal.

Are you interested in how the whole Competitive Dialog process took place? What did it include? What activities did we carry out? Take a look at the summary of the Competitive Dialog activities.

THE ROHAN AND LIBEŇ ISLAND CONCEPT

The Rohan and Libeň Island concept is the basis for the development of the 56-hectare territory that stretches between the cycle path and the river from Hlávka Bridge to the to the edge of Libeňské kosy. The aims of the concept are to partially preserve the urban wilderness at the site, to improve the area for leisure activities, and to bring people closer to the river and nature in the city center. The requirements for the development of the area are based on the involvement of local stakeholders and the public throughout the development of the project. The main principles and building blocks for the development of the whole area are, inter alia, sustainability, multifunctionality, informality and permeability. The connection of the area with the surrounding districts and coordination with other projects on the Vltava River that are being prepared or implemented in Prague are important topics. The central project of this concept is Maniny Park.

Maniny Park

Maniny Park, a floodplain park on the Vltava River, is one of the last major projects with the potential to improve flood protection in Prague. The original project for the new canal, which has had a building permit for several years, was examined as part of the Competitive Dialog. The winning proposal succeeded in finding a more appropriate and effective approach to the area, in the context of the current property relations and the available funding. It will require significantly less excavation work, meaning lower costs of implementation, while the effectiveness of the flood protection measure is maintained. Together with the construction of the Libeň inundation (flood) bridge, the flood protection function of the area will be fulfilled, as it will provide a larger area for water overflow and slow down the river flow during flooding. The Rohan Island area is the last place in Prague where the flood protection system for the city center can be significantly improved.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED, IS HAPPENING AND WILL HAPPEN?

We spent over one year to select the best team in order to achieve the best possible results. These are the most important milestones:

April 2022 - We launch the tender procedure with a Competitive Dialog
July 2022 - The expert committee selects four teams out of the original 13
September 2022 - The selected teams come to Prague for the first time for Workshop I of the Competitive Dialog
January 2023 - The four teams remaining in the competition present their first design concepts in Workshop II
May 2023 - The teams present their final designs, from which the committee selects the winners
September 2023 - We announce the winner of the Competitive Dialog that will co-create the shape of Rohan and Libeň Islands for decades to come!
2023-2024 - Completion of the Maniny Park study and the Rohan and Libeň Island Concept - you will again participate in the completion of the study.

More detailed information

History

Rohan Island was once a an island on the Vltava River. Today, this part of Karlín is an island in name only. It bears the name Rohan after one of its owners - Josef Rohan - a burgher and carpenter, who became its owner after 1850.
The former island was formed from deposits left after flooding. The largest extent of the island was from Těšnov to today’s Šaldova Street.
It was connected with Jerusalemský Island at the western end in around 1900. It was merged with Libeň Island in the 1920s, during the extensive regulation of the Vltava riverbed. Both the former islands were also connected to the bank at Karlin and to the Maniny territory. The arm of the river on which the port of Karlin used to operate was filled in during the 1950s.
Rohan Island never blossomed into beauty. For many years it was basically an illegal dump, a periphery in the center of the city. During the construction of the metro, it served as a storage facility for excavated material. In 1999, extensive clean-up work began in advance of the planned revitalization of the area.
You can read more about the area in Rohan Island Historical and Natural Science Research, written by a team of authors led by art historian Radoslava Schmelzová.
Extensive information about the area is also contained in the document Rohan Island Landscape Analysis, produced in cooperation with Šmídová Landscape Architects.

STAKEHOLDERS IN THE TERRITORY

Take a look at the stakeholder map for Rohan and Libeň Island.
If you are a local stakeholder and would like to get involved in the planning of Rohan Island, or at least be kept informed, let us know about you at pfister@ipr.praha.eu.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

The area addressed by the Competitive Dialog is extremely diverse and complex for a city center location. IPR therefore commissioned historical, natural scientific, social, biological and dendrological research. The future shape of Rohan Island is being created in cooperation with local stakeholders such as public administration, landowners, cultural and sports associations, non-profit organizations, and others. Involving the public in the project through various participatory activities has been key for IPR Prague since the beginning of the project in 2020 - we organized an exhibition in the area, guided walks, lectures, and discussions. The participation also included an open information container and a questionnaire. Not even the resulting design from the Competitive Dialog is final, as it will be further developed in a new planning process with public participation, which will be led by Prague together with the contracted team. The intention of the city is not only to create a social consensus on the development of the area, but also to strengthen the relationship to the area and to keep everybody regularly informed about what is happening at the site.We have carefully processed the collected data, and now you can read the individual outputs of our participation activities.

You can make your browsing more interesting by studying the map of all stimuli from the questionnaire or by browsing the map of key actors.

Summary report on public participation

Rohan and Libeň Island concept - Summary of public participation

01 The whole Rohan and Libeň Island area - Through the eyes of the public and key stakeholders

02 Rohan and Libeň Island locations - Through the eyes of the public and key stakeholders

03 Involvement of key stakeholders - Finding a vision for the development of the territory

04 Users of Rohan and Libeň Island - Interviews in the field

05 The present and future of Rohan and Libeň Island - Through the eyes of children and young people

06 Rohan and Libeň Island- And people without a roof over their heads

News from the Rohan Island project and its surroundings

Press release: Rohan Island now knows its future shape. It will be designed by a Czech-Belgian team

Exhibition in the territory

We will also introduce you to the competition designs at an exhibition in the territory. You can find this in three places: in the former Karlin port (at the corner of Pobřežní Street), in the future Maniny Park, and at the Olgoj Chorchoj studio. Take a walk around Rohan and Libeň Island, learn about the local fauna and flora, and read about the future of Rohan and Libeň Island.

Questionnaire

Our work definitely does not end with the announcement of the winner of the Competitive Dialog, and the winning design is not yet finalized. The winning team will refine it on the basis of further meetings and discussions with local stakeholders. However, we would like to ask you now to complete a short questionnaire, which will provide very valuable feedback on our activities over recent years. Have you attended any lectures or guided walks? Have you been to the exhibition? Have we met at the information container? What do you think of our communication and the activities we prepare for you? Do you have suggestions for improvement? Let us know! We will be very happy to receive your feedback. You can complete the questionnaire here.

Basic organizational arrangements for the project

POLITICAL GUARANTOR OF THE PROJECT

Petr Hlaváček, Deputy Mayor for Territorial Development and Urban Planning
Jana Plamínková, Deputy Mayor for the Environment

PROJECT MANAGER

Martina Bauerová, architect, Public Space Office, IPR City Details Section
contact: bauerova@ipr.praha.eu

PROJECT ADMINISTRATOR

Kristýna Lhotská, architect, Director of the IPE City Details Section

INVESTORS IN THE TERRITORY

Canal and Landscaping - Department of Investments of Prague City Hall
Park - Department of Environmental Protection of Prague City Hall

PRAGUE CITY HALL TERRITORY MANAGERS

Future Maniny Park - Department of Environmental Protection of Prague City Hall
A large number of component administrators - cultural actors, companies, associations, individuals, etc.