Cena Petra Parléře 2013 - 1st place

The Budovatelů Square is a significant public space in the city of Sokolov. Unlike the Old Square, which is defined by a few historic buildings that survived extensive demolitions in the post-World War II period, Budovatelů Square was created in the 1950s and 1960s. Its dominant feature became the Hornický dům, a grand building standing in this location since the 1920s, designed by architect Rudolf Wels. The builders' enthusiasm gave rise to a space intended for mass demonstrations in support of socialism and bears all the negative characteristics of similarly conceived areas – primarily vast expanse and inhuman scale, aimed at suppressing individual identity. Efforts to at least partially humanize this space in subsequent decades have only introduced further problems – replacing the original grassy areas at the sides of the square with beds filled with overgrown greenery, largely consisting of coniferous trees unsuitable for an urban environment, which only created more communication and visual barriers. The atmosphere of the space has not benefited from even minor interventions in recent times: the installation of a light information board, a second information board with a carillon near the Hornický dům, or a standardized public restroom facility. Today, Budovatelů Square may come to life during exceptional moments when social and cultural events take place; however, as a place for everyday life, it is far from functional.
Yet, there is a huge potential here for everything to be different. Whether on the square itself or in its immediate surroundings, there are several important public buildings. In addition to the aforementioned Hornický dům, which today serves a cultural role, there are the labor office, Ural shopping center, city hall, courthouse, and several schools. Nearby are also sports facilities and Husovy sady with the Sokolov castle. Every day, a vast number of people pass through these places, yet they have very little motivation for what constitutes the basis of a fulfilling urban life – meeting, chance encounters, stopping, observing, resting, or engaging in other forms of activity and relaxation.
Therefore, our main goal was to propose a solution that would bring a human-friendly scale and an atmosphere different from the existing one into the space. Our considerations can be summarized into a few concise principles:
Our solution is based on the existing grid that permeates the entire area of the square and the adjacent 5. května street. However, by using a different material solution that combines several related shades of gray tiles, we aim to mitigate its excessive contrast. The grid should be apparent in the space more subconsciously than entirely literally.
Along the sides of the square, where commercial buildings line the ground floor, we widen the sidewalks to make them pleasant for walking and stopping. At the staircase in front of the Hornický dům, we similarly widen the landing area, creating a permanent space that can be used for various cultural and social events as a natural stage.
We discreetly distinguish the square itself from 5. května street using several shades of paving, without disrupting the spatial unity of the whole. This solution also points to the historical configuration of these places during the few decades between the establishment of the Hornický dům and the creation of the square, when Langsstrasse (now 5. května) ran through this area with small gardens occupying the space of today’s square.
An important step is the new transportation solution. We believe it is necessary to exclude traffic or even parking from the space directly in front of the Hornický dům. However, we do not intend to exclude traffic or parking entirely from the square. Therefore, we propose two one-way lanes along both sides, connecting to Odboje street and the eastern part of 5. května street. To open an exit from 5. května street to Jednoty street, it will be necessary to shift the existing bus stop (probably in front of the entrance to the labor office). We do not think it is necessary to increase the number of parking spaces beyond approximately 80 proposed spots, as we see several potentially suitable parking lots (Pionýru street, a corner of residual greenery between Nábřežní street and the roundabout, etc.) within a pleasantly accessible walking distance (300–500 m).
Instead of the current problematic beds filled with overgrown greenery, we propose to completely clear the space and plant trees that will not obstruct the permeability of the square and will also play a compositional role, visually and sensorially reducing the space of the square and allowing for the creation of a more intimate area with a gravel surface in its southeastern part. Deciduous trees will further support the subconscious perception of the passage of time in the entire space, as they will better express the changing seasons or the perception of weather phenomena than the existing conifers.
In the southwest corner of the square, we propose to place a new multi-purpose facility, which would include a café or patisserie on the ground floor, which could be opened directly connecting it to the surrounding public space. This facility will create a smaller counter to the Hornický dům, aligning with it in its internal purpose – both buildings should serve a cultural role, albeit of slightly different character.
Several additional smaller structures – an art piece, a water feature, lighting fixtures, etc. – are proposed and placed in accordance with the overall design.
These principles are illustrated in detail in the graphic part of our proposal.
We believe that our solution would be a significant contribution to the functioning not only of the Budovatelů Square and 5. května street itself but also of the nearby and broader surroundings. And as such, it would undoubtedly fulfill all the requirements of the client.
Thus, a place for a fulfilling festive and primarily everyday life in the city would emerge.