H. Králové announced an architectural competition for the street with the communist monument

Hradec Králové - The city of Hradec Králové has announced an architectural and artistic competition for the modification of the public space on U Koruny street, where the communist monument Gallery of Honor stands in the center. Part of the solution should involve a new use of the work from the era of so-called real socialism. The deadline for the first round of the competition is August 29, according to the competition guidelines. The city hall wants to have the results of the architectural competition by the end of the year.

"In the first phase, anyone who meets the competition participation conditions can present a concept for the space solution. From the submitted concepts, an expert jury will select at least three and a maximum of five concepts in anonymous mode, whose authors will be invited by the city to submit more detailed proposals," said Adam Záruba, Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning and Heritage Care (Change for Hradec).

The announcement of the architectural competition has been prepared by the city hall since last autumn. In addition to the comments and opinions of artists, historians, and architects, the public's opinions were also incorporated into the competition guidelines. The city has entrusted the planning office ONplan with the preparation and organization of the competition.

According to Záruba, the future of the concrete monument Gallery of Honor should be a challenge for the participants in the competition. The work consists of two concrete blocks at the intersection of which is a relief of a large five-pointed star. Most of the letters from the inscription "The people are the main creators of history" remain on one block. During socialism, photographs of deserving Hradec communists and workers recognized by communists hung on the monument. In the past, the city hall contemplated demolishing the monument.

The entire area that architects will address is defined by U Koruny street, Suk's gardens, and Gočár's boulevard. Competitors will also be able to propose modifications for the entire U Koruny street, which the city has been considering reconstructing for many years.

The actual reconstruction of the public space, which will also involve the construction of roads, sidewalks, and new greenery, could, according to Záruba, amount to tens of millions of crowns.