MHMP: Prague approved the competition plan for the revitalization of Vrchlický sady
16.05.2022 18:44 | Press Release
Today, under the name Nový Hlavák, the members of the Prague City Council approved the launch of a competitive dialogue for the revitalization of the area around the main railway station, which concerns Vrchlický sady, the station’s check-in hall and the construction of a new tram line. The competitive dialogue and the subsequent implementation of the project is a joint activity of the City of Prague, the Railway Administration, Dopravní podnik hl. Prague (DPP) and the Institute of Planning and Development of the Capital City of Prague (IPR). The purpose of the dialogue is to select the architectural design that best fulfills the complex task. The winning proposal will be announced next summer.
The competition plan Nový Hlavák envisages a new concept and transformation of Vrchlický sady, including the construction of a new tram line that will lead from Opletalova Street to the National Museum, and an extensive reconstruction of the check-in hall of Prague’s main railway station. The aim of the project is to cultivate and renovate the entire area and create significantly better conditions for both residents and passengers.
The conditions of the Nový Hlavák competitive dialogue will be officially announced in the first half of June. Five multidisciplinary teams will be selected by an expert jury for their participation in the competitive dialogue and elaboration of the proposal, based on the professional approach methodology. The winning design will be announced in June next year. The actual start of construction is planned for 2025, with completion expected two years later.
“For a long time, we have been trying to improve the quality of public space so that it is really for people and not for shame. And the area around Central Station needs to be transformed like salt, it’s just the gateway to the city. The park, which is unflatteringly nicknamed Sherwood, will get a fresh face, including a new tram line, “says the mayor of Prague, Zdeněk Hřib.
Petr Hlaváček, Deputy Mayor for Territorial Development, adds: “This competitive dialogue is a beautiful example of how much the functioning of public institutions and their ability to cooperate has improved in recent years. While a few years ago we tackled the blue railing, today we are able to manage the railways to cooperate on major urban projects, thanks to which we have a chance to bring new architecture to the city at the European level. “Sherwood” problems cannot be solved without redevelopment of the check-in hall and vice versa. It is necessary to approach them with emotion so that the inner periphery becomes a representative gateway to the city. That’s why we want to give creative brains the opportunity to come up with ideas, well-thought-out urban planning and proposals that might not even occur to us at the moment. “
“Unfortunately, the most important stations in the country have not succeeded in removing the reputation of a problematic and not very well-known place. We also want to change this situation by building a new tram line between the Museum and Bolzanova Street, which will allow a tram stop to be located directly in front of the station building, similar to the nearby Masaryk Railway Station. Together with the reconstruction of Vrchlický sady and the historic and new building of the main railway station, a dignified, functional and representative entrance to the capital will be created in the coming years, ”says Adam Scheinherr, Deputy Mayor for Transport.
“The Prague Central Station complex is undergoing gradual renovation and modernization. The Railway Administration is aware that the largest railway station in the Czech Republic is part of the public space in the center of the metropolis, which is why we have started preparing and now implementing projects that bring positive changes. For example, the listed Fant’s building is undergoing reconstruction. The citizens of Prague, and not only them, have been served by the extended northern subway since last autumn, which has somewhat shortened the walking distance between the city districts. Through a joint competitive dialogue, which includes the reconstruction of the new check-in hall, we will complete the completion of changes to the entire complex and the adjoining public space, “says Jiří Svoboda, General Manager of the Railway Administration.
“The main station currently lacks greater connections with public transport. Today, there is only the entrance to the metro station C directly in the check-in hall, the nearest existing tram stops in Bolzanova Street are about half a kilometer away. Thanks to the competitive dialogue approved today, I hope that in the foreseeable future we will see the completion of the planned tram line through Vrchlického sady to the National Museum and Vinohrady, which will offer new, direct connections and thus the attractiveness of public transport and the main station itself. I am glad that the revitalization of this area will be comprehensively comprehensive. Architectural competitive dialogue is a suitable way to find and fine-tune the right solution that will be user-friendly and at the same time traffic-functional, ”notes Petr Witowski, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of DPP.
Ondřej Boháč, director of the Institute of Planning and Development of the Capital City of Prague, adds to the project: “Our goal is to create a pleasant city for everyone. After the modifications of the surroundings of the National Museum and Wenceslas Square, this is another place in the very center of Prague, which we are trying to improve. In addition, Nový Hlavák is specific in that the city and the state cooperate on it, which is a very promising start for a future quality result. “
A press conference will be held on June 7 at 9.30 am in the Slovan rooftop car park at the main railway station with the participation of representatives of the management of the cooperating organizations. On the same day, a discussion evening will be set up for the public at the Center for Architecture and Local Planning (CAMP), during which it will be possible to obtain more detailed information about the project.
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author: Press Release