Náves Velká Polom

Velká Polom developed along the street between Opava and Ostrava from a medieval water fortress. Historically, it did not have a square.

The "birth" of the square is the result of many years of systematic and continuous effort from the local leadership to culminate the initiators of public life at the site of St. Wenceslas Church. The municipality gradually purchased buildings and plots of land - complementing the skeleton of symbolic structures such as the church, municipal office, multipurpose hall, café, and shopping center with a post office and municipal library. Only then did they proceed to purchase a block of buildings at the center of public life, creating a logical, natural space for the square. Not through the work of an architect, but through "common sense," of which I feel there is less and less.... However, the mayor has also received the title of "Municipal Politician of the Year 2017" for the square under the auspices of the Ministry for Regional Development.

Our proposal for the square was preceded by student work from the VSB-TU Department of Architecture in Ostrava. Originally, we were supposed to just develop further stages of project documentation based on a selected student design. We could not identify with the student work. We argued to the municipal leadership about its schematic nature, untapped potential of the site, and pitfalls for future use.

We perceive the place as a natural meeting point for citizens, a community space, a connection between adjacent public buildings. The oval space itself is unified with a consistent yellow granite pavement. The uniformity of the surface is achieved by irregularly placed segments. The area has two levels divided by a staircase made of granite blocks. The upper level is at the original slope along the roadway and utilizes and restores the historical well. The lower level is horizontal, a recreational area, acoustically sheltered from the roadway. The staircase also serves as seating for events taking place at the square. The square is expected to host markets, performances, and a Christmas tree will be placed there.

From the roads on the west and south sides, the square is separated by a stone wall matching the design of the church wall. The outer oval of the square is paved with gray granite cobblestones, featuring a newly constructed barrier-free entrance to the library.

The furniture consists of "dynamic" oak chairs and benches arranged and oriented to encourage interaction among those seated. They are placed in the northern, quieter part of the square near the water feature and greenery. On the grass in front of the library - under a newly planted green maple - chairs are positioned to provide privacy for the reader. Varieties of red maples, which the municipality previously planted along the roads, are also planted in the square.

The water feature takes advantage of the ability of water to flow, spray, fall, and create a surface. It utilizes the original well - shaping the lid to form the individual streams of pumped water and placing three types of pumps that attract not only children. Water then flows down through carved recesses in the staircase to the lower part of the square, where it meanders and creates a surface. The water feature is closed-looped, and with the help of a pump, water flows out at the upper part of the staircase, finding its way down the stairs with changing intensity.

Given the sufficient surrounding public lighting, only individual elements - benches, trees along the library, and the northern wall with greenery - were illuminated.