H. Králové is preparing an architectural competition for a street with a communist monument

Hradec Králové – Hradec Králové intends to announce an architectural competition in April for the transformation of the public space on U Koruny street. In its center stands a monumental concrete structure from the socialist era known as the Gallery of Honor. The solution should include a new use for the monument. The city hall hopes to have the results of the architectural competition by October. The city wants to involve the public in the preparation of the competition, which has a budget of 1.7 million crowns.

"The Gallery of Honor is one of the examples of visual culture during the period of real socialism and late modernism. The city will be looking for ways in the competition to engage with this monument as a testimony of the era and a prompt for critical reflection on the development of not only Czech history," said Adam Záruba (Change for Hradec), Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning and Heritage Care, today.

The public space is located between the Koruna intersection with the Aupark shopping center and 28th October Square. In the past, the city hall considered demolishing the socialist monument. The Gallery of Honor consists of two concrete blocks, at the junction of which is a relief of a large five-pointed star. One block still bears most of the letters from the inscription The People are the Main Creators of History. During socialism, photographs of distinguished communist members from Hradec and workers honored by the communists hung on the monument.

The first public meeting is scheduled for February 15 at the building of a vocational school in the courtyard at the Koruna intersection. "We will assess the current state of the area and its surroundings and focus on its future. We want to hear from the public what their ideas are, what the problems and needs of local residents are, and what should be part of the area’s solutions," Záruba stated. The second meeting will be an expert debate on February 29 at the Gallery of Modern Art.

In the first phase of the architectural competition, anyone who meets the participation requirements will be able to submit a solution concept. From the submitted concepts, an expert jury will anonymously select at least five concepts, the authors of which will be invited by the city to submit more detailed proposals. In the second phase of the competition, the jury will evaluate the best proposals. The city will negotiate with the winner about finalizing the project.

According to Záruba, the actual redevelopment of the public space, which will also include the construction of roads, sidewalks, and new green areas, could cost tens of millions of crowns.