Second place in the urban planning competition for the revitalization of the Černá louka area

URBANISM / CONCEPT
Plug-in platform Černá Louka – an open system, residential area – freely extendable with individual functions, continuously densified, allowing for the gradual construction of buildings with various functions. Connection of quality green and paved areas with a dynamic, shape-rich urban space. A new base for culture, education, housing, services, artistic creation, and leisure in the city center.
The Černá Louka location represents an exceptionally valuable 20-hectare area directly linked to the historic core of the city and the confluence of the Ostravice and Lučina rivers. We propose the creation of an open urban system that will allow for the transformation and reconstruction of the area in phases according to the specific construction programs of individual buildings in relation to the economic possibilities of the city or private entities.
This open system represents an urban framework with basic dimensions of 125 x 250 m, its gradual completion in relation to the city allows for many open variants compared to the completion of classical blocks. We intentionally do not restrict the area modularly, believing that each of the gradually implemented buildings/structures can have its own life according to specific authorial solutions. It is about creating a framework with given regulations.
The intentional concentration of masses in a small space, densification of activities supports their mutual overlap, merging, and interaction. Compositionally expressed by sharing spatial coves for multiple entities at once.
The volumes of individual buildings on the platform are based on an indicative construction program, but their placement within the concept is not the only possible one. It is essential to ensure permeability primarily in the north-south direction from Masaryk Square to the Ostravice embankment. The platform is bounded to the east by Střelniční Street, and to the north by Pivovarská, and is served by a calm communication from the extended proposed intersection of Na Karolině Street to Havlíčkovo embankment.

ARCHITECTURE
The platform/plug-in grid includes the cultural forum buildings, supplemented by a residential block, a hotel, and an experimental theater. The western edge of the platform is defined by the extension of Dlouhá Street, and opposite the puppet theater is the Creative Incubator with a multimedia theater hall, complementing both existing theaters with another type of theater stage.
To the south of the theater, we find a hotel, which together with the completed residential block on the eastern edge enhances the cultural cluster with another function. A striking organic soft mass inserted between both poles contains the main information center, shops, and café.
Along it, we move south into the center of the platform. Here is the fundamental functional part of the cluster – the Philharmonic building – the concert hall.
The objects of the Center for Modern Music in the southwest sector and the Exhibition Hall Bottega on the eastern edge complement the composition. In the southern sector of the forum, we find the conference facility for the gallery and residential studios with services.
The cultural forum opens to the south to the Ostravice river, which is integrated into the concept. The forum smoothly transitions via a terrace over the water with generous stairs to the water and a pedestrian bridge across the water. The pedestrian line of the bridge will be extended under the Bohumínská transport flyover to the area of the castle.
A strong pedestrian line is created – Masaryk Square – Cultural Forum – Ostravice embankment – Ostrava Castle, to which green park spaces suitable for open-air festival activities are connected.
In the western part, with the new routing of Na Karolině Street, a Waldorf School is inserted into the park strip of the biocorridor, emphasizing the urban block development. Along with this tranquil natural element, it enriches the atmosphere with its form and gentle topography, creating an environment for its own content and mode of use, as an oasis of creative activities undisturbed by the negative influences of urban environments and living styles.
Given the investment possibilities of the city or private entities, several phasing variants are offered by quadrants or individual objects. We anticipate, due to the timeline for implementation, a possible functional or programmatic development in the gradual completion.

TRAFFIC
The proposal respects the approved city zoning plan and ensures new connections in the Černá Louka area between 28. října Street and Frýdecká. The territory is considered target and non-transit. The cultural and social forum will be served by communication leading from Na Karolině Street to Havlíčkovo embankment at the intersection with Divadelní Street; the proposal assumes the implementation of traffic regulatory, or possibly technical measures that would limit the impacts of motor vehicle traffic – while supporting pedestrian and cycling transport.

GREEN SPACES
The construction of the cultural forum connecting the existing central part of the city with the Ostravice river and the Castle creates a given compact form space for a generously designed park between the southern edge of the city and the watercourse. We also account for the rehabilitation of green areas in the river floodplain and on its southern bank. The urban character of the park with relaxed groups of trees in the English style will be supplemented only by solitary small architecture.

ESTIMATE OF INVESTMENT COSTS
Philharmonic - 80,000 m³
Exhibition Hall Bottega Gallery - 56,000 m³
Center for Modern Music - 50,000 m³
Housing - 68,000 m³
Info / café / services - 26,000 m³
Hotel - 38,000 m³
Creative Incubator / Multimedia Stage - 21,000 m³
Residential Studios - 23,000 m³
Waldorf School - 27,000 m³

Total - 389,000 m³

Estimated investment costs - CZK 3,550 million

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Jury's Evaluation: The platform extending from the urban structure creates an open urban system that allows for the gradual construction of buildings with various functions and architectural expressions within given limits.
The concentration of masses and density of activities supports their mutual overlap, merging, and interaction.
The author offers several phasing variants by quadrants or individual objects.
The construction of the cultural forum connecting the existing central part of the city with the river and the castle creates a given compact form space for a newly established park between the southern edge of the city and the watercourse. The proposal offers a different perspective compared to other awarded designs.