PUBLIC SPACE
Village square at the Bell Tower, Prštice, Czech Republic
The aim of the proposal was to create a united and pleasant place for Prštice residents – to return life and social events to the bell tower. The proposal draws largely from historical evidence and tries to restore the values of the territory. According to historical photographs, the green hill will be preserved and restored, which will be partly reinforced by the seating steps. The green part will be sown by a flowering mixture of perennial and annual plants, with the planting of spring bulbs. Further, according to historical photographs, in the western part, the flower beds with blossoming perennials will be restored and 3 small trees will be planted to provide a shadow. The existing well has a potential for use as the interactive water feature – a low groove will be modulated in the paved area. In the case of water spillage, water can flow through the groove, around the bell to the heel of the stairs in front of the bell, where it will gradually fall. Here comes a small “square” with benches and two small trees. All paved areas of the solved territory will be unified with granite cubes. The road will be raised to the same level as the sidewalk, creating a deceleration zone for transportation. Road surfaces for motor vehicles and pedestrian areas will be visually separated by varying the size of the granite cubes.
URBANISM
Music of the street, urban study of Cejl, Czech republic
Today´s Cejl is a quarter of decaying buildings, filthy bars and barred pawn shops, home of conspicuous romany community tied up with gambling and drugs. It is sometimes exaggeratedly referred to a ghetto.. The Bronx of Brno, the second biggest city in the Czech republic.
Originally a suburb of Brno, then in the era of industrial revolution textile and leather industry centre. Historical multi-storey houses from the 19th century were settled mostly by working class. Building of a former penitentiary, in the focus of our proposal, served in the protectorate period as a regional court of prisons and the transfer station to concentration camps. After the onset of communism many political prisoners were imprisoned and executed in this house. Building opposite to penitentiary served as a city market and a cinema.
In this globalizing world we tried to think about the future of the inhabitants and apply the specific role to connect different groups of people in our concept. Our proposal has three main goals. Firstly, to integrate the problematic community into the city environment, accent the musicality and playful nature of gipsy population and highlight the talented individuals. We want to create several spots across the street with playful elements that enable cooperation and therefore have the ability of linking people together. These elements are located on the light on the pavement, referring to a nickname of the street, “The Line” (Čára), and also coming out of the Mahen´s theatre, the first electrically lit theater in Europe.
Secondly, to point out the unique atmosphere of this place. Some of the ideas are to restore and revive the former city market as one big flea and farmer’s market, to create a jam coffee with a great view of the city centre or to indicate components in the furniture referring to the turbulent history of this quarter. And finally, to use the city greenery to revive the street which is inhospitable during the summer and depressing during the winter. We propose an extense green tram line, green raised bus stops for higher safety and convenience, and a system of vertical walls for microclimate improvement.
COMMERCIAL SPACES
Office park in Bor, Czech republic
The space in front of Bor office buildings has been diversified by dynamic perennial-grass beds. Hedges and groups of multi-stem trees have created a background of the social and relaxation zone from the hectic highway. Atmosphere of this space is completed by ash and pine trees. The central part of the composition is dominated by a solitaire oak tree.
