26 teams registered for the competition regarding the design of the surroundings and the hall of the main train station

Prague - A total of 26 architectural firms from the Czech Republic and abroad have entered the competition announced by Prague and the Railway Administration (SŽ) for the design of planned modifications to the surroundings and the new hall of the main train station. This was reported today by Marek Vácha, spokesman for the City Institute of Planning and Development (IPR). The proposal is to include three major projects - the construction of a tram line and modifications to Vrchlického Gardens, which the city hall plans, as well as the reconstruction of the new departure hall of the station, being prepared by SŽ.

"We expected interest in the competition dialogue not only from domestic participants but also from abroad. The total number of 26 applicants, from 13 countries around the world, exceeded our expectations," said the expert guarantor of the competition, architect Jakub Cígler. According to IPR information, out of the registered teams, nine are purely Czech, while the remaining ones are either foreign or composed of Czech and foreign architects.

The competition takes the form of a competitive dialogue in which experts and representatives from the city hall, the transport company, SŽ, and other interested parties will be involved in the preparation with the designers. The next phase will involve the registered teams developing a methodology for their approach to the individual topics. Based on this, the jury will select five finalists in September. According to earlier information, the results are expected to be known around the middle of next year.

The proposal will include plans for a tram line that will run from Vinohradská třída through Vrchlického Gardens around the station and connect to the current tracks in Bolzanova Street. Another major project is the area of Vrchlického Gardens itself, including the adjoining public spaces. The final major part of the competition assignment is the reconstruction of the new departure hall of the station, from which the current parking lot is to be relocated underground.